tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26096461518004335282024-03-19T03:21:48.638-07:00clothing fashionUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger603125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-39635145708841190802013-11-24T11:06:00.000-08:002013-11-24T22:14:17.410-08:00REVIEWS: Lee Stafford Breaking Hair Leave iN Treatment<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_1309" height="424" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2858/11012593824_b2e825fb9f_c.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> HiHiHi! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Leave In Conditioners. They promise the earth, and deliver nothing. At least, that's my experience of them anyway and my experience is quite considerable, having tried pretty much every one going. It reached the point where I began to disregard them completely, they quite literally did nothing for my locks. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I gave up on them. That is, until Boots ran another of their ludicrously tempting 3 for 2 offers, begging me to part with my hard earned cash once more.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lee Stafford's Breaking Hear Leave iN Treatment was part of the offer and in spite of the 'Leave iN' part of its name, it actually appealed to me. I think what really caught my attention was the marketing aimed at breaking hair, something I've had to be very conscious of since dying my hair Turquoise. It may look fun and great having this colour hair (and it is!) but it's not all glory, a lot of hard work goes in to keeping the hair in good condition.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1311" height="424" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2851/11012407255_a17c2c70f9_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A little background is probably needed then, I had to bleach it not once but twice to achieve the pale yellowy-white stage of the hair required to achieve the true turquoise I was looking for. If the dye is applied to hair that's too yellow, my hair would would have quite literally turned green.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As a result of the harsh bleaching process, my hair was severely parched. I couldn't even get a garden rake through my hair without the aid of a detangling spray, though I was tempted to try at one point! But seriously, without the detangling spray my hair was extremely susceptible to some nasty breakage.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1313" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/11012635033_e3f3e2520e_c.jpg" width="640" /></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So naturally, any help on offer was gratefully received and Lee Stafford was promising product designed specifically to help girls (or guys) who found themselves in this kind of situation. I began using this on a regular basis after shampooing and conditioning my hair, then detangle using Johnson's No More Tears Detangling Spray, before finally applying a dollop of Lee Stafford on to my midlengths and ends. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My naivety had got the better of me once more though. I should have known better. Nothing else has worked before, so why should this? Hindsight is a beautiful thing, but this stuff did nothing for my hair. It felt as dry as it had before and just as rough. Another product consigned to the 'Useless Box' in the corner of my room. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But then my beloved detangling spray ran out, and I desperately needed something to help me get a comb through my mane. How on earth was I going to do that? There was no alternative but to rummage through the 'Useless Box' and hope upon hope there was something in there that might offer a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. That light was pink. Shocking pink.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I took out the pink tube and applied a big dollop to the hair, bigger than I'd applied previously, massaged it into my hair and got detangling. I was shocked how this actually detangled my hair nicely, there was no tugging action at all. In fact it was a breeze, just as easy as when using the detangling spray.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But that isn't where the shocks ended. Once the hair was detangled I blowdried my hair and <i>that's</i> when I noticed something very surprising.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My hair felt a bit more resilient! It looked smoother, sleeker and shinier! As for breakage? Nothing! It worked even better than the detangling spray ever did, like it's two products in one: detangler and leave in treatment. I've been using Johnson's for almost a year now, and it was a godsend when I first re-discovered it now, but now I'm contemplating giving it up for my Pink light at the end of the tunnel instead.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Those of you who have used Lee Stafford's products in the past will be quite familiar with the scent, a very strong, sweet floral fragrance with an underlying musky scent that tones down the sickly sweetness. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The scent attaches itself to my hair and stays there all day, every time I give my hair a nice '<i>SWISH!' </i>I can pick up on the scent. It really is a beautiful scent, so much so I'm considering purchasing the actual fragrance that Lee Stafford launched years ago. I'm sure they're going for about £4 on eBay, get in!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back to the Leave iN Treatment though, and I have to say I'm quite happy with the results, well done Lee! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lee Stafford's Breaking Hair Leave iN Treatment can be purchased in Boots, priced at £7.99 for 75mls.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-75395807909595174412013-11-17T13:03:00.000-08:002013-11-24T22:14:17.495-08:00OUTFITS: Velvet and Fur - What Dreams are Made of<div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_1087" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7408/10910855463_fa1941682b_c.jpg" width="383" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know I've said this before, but it really is becoming increasingly difficult to find the time to shoot OOTDs now that winter has descended upon us. The lack of daylight hours mean it's a bit of a race against time to squeeze some photos in. One of many things I detest about winter, I crave day light! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Regardless, I'm still compensating for that by making the odd extravagant purchase here or there. I think it's only fair, my debit card seems to disagree though! But I just <i>have</i> to drape myself in Velvet and Faux fur during the winter, how else is a girl supposed to keep warm?</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I came across this hugely attractive silver crushed velvet skirt in Topshop, which I'm sure my girl <a href="http://www.just-nice-things.co.uk/" target="_blank">Sheenie</a> feels as much love for as I do! It's quite different to anything I own, I can't recall having ever seen silver velvet before yet when I saw it for the first time I had visions of it being one of those incredibly versatile pieces that seem to go with practically everything.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For this outfit, I paired it with a sequinned fluffy jumper also from Topshop. I know it may seem unimaginative but Topshop never fail with their A/W lines, to the point I just want to buy everything! I find myself entering into a trance-like state everytime I walk by Topshop, trying to regain control of my legs and stop myself from wandering in.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_1019" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5549/10910698224_763bfdcae9_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1048" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/10910862653_4dee8663bd_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1056" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/10910553635_cda36dee89_c.jpg" width="432" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1091" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3799/10910579286_046f3d2d1b_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1086" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3772/10910550005_38fbfdf1ab_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1090" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3726/10910581436_801294051a_c.jpg" width="381" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_1093" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2832/10910542115_295b65f489_c.jpg" width="424" /> <img alt="DSC_1069" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3830/10910551625_766f251323_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=0&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=33057&storeId=12556&productId=12252346&langId=-1&categoryId=&parent_category_rn=&searchTerm=sequin%20fluffy&resultCount=1" target="_blank">Sequin Fluffy Jumper: Topshop</a> || <a href="http://www.topshop.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?searchTerm=velvet+skirt&storeId=12556&productId=12036148&urlRequestType=Base&categoryId=&langId=-1&productIdentifier=product&catalogId=33057" target="_blank">Silver Crushed Velvet Skater Skirt: Topshop</a> || <a href="http://www.missselfridge.com/en/msuk/product/clothing-299047/coats-jackets-299068/blond-faux-fur-coat-2290099?bi=1&ps=40" target="_blank">Mink Faux Fur Coat: Miss Selfridge</a> || <a href="http://www.tattydevine.com/shop/by-product/necklaces/horse-and-carriage-necklace-gold.html" target="_blank">Silver Horse & Carriage Necklace: Tatty Devine </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The fur coat feels like pure luxury on my shoulders, it's not the kind that makes you feel a bit itchy, it's just so, *<i>so*</i> soft! In recent years I've found myself buying a new winter coat every year, I blame it on the high street. Each year there seem to be one or two stunning winter coats that <i>demand</i> my attention. How am I supposed to resist?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-90158857672909087492013-11-10T12:56:00.000-08:002013-11-24T22:14:17.570-08:00REVIEWS: Bourjois Paris Intense Extrait Eyeshadow - 11<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_0984" height="450" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3675/10784096843_d39e256ab1_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> For the past couple of years, my 'go to' every day eyeshadow has always been MACs creamy beige <i>Brule</i>. Everyone loves Brule, its light neutral tone matches up perfectly with my skin making it great for my everyday eyeshadow look. Thing is, I hit pan on Brule recently and as much as I love it, I also love to mix things up. This was the perfect opportunity for change.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wandered into the Boots in Manchester City Centre on the hunt for something new, something different to replace my beloved Brule. I was more than a little confused though as they'd changed the layout seemingly overnight, so I didn't really know where everything was. Then, out of nothing I spotted a sparkly little pot of lilac goodness just <i>begging </i>to be bought. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Bourjois Paris' Intense Eyeshadow No.11!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0870" height="434" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3748/10784103123_1d61d2c663_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">While the colours may be different, Intense Extrait is on a similar level to Brule in that the colour isn't too bright or bold yet still manages to brighten up the eye area, giving that wide-eyed appearance. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Intense Extrait is from the Bourjois Intense range, which they claim to be highly concentrated and will last up to 16 hours. No. 11 is a pale lilac colour with streaks of silver running through it. In the pan it looks so, so pretty!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0855" height="447" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3817/10784108543_c9d88734e4_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Let's take a moment to drown in the gorgeousness of this! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the application I swirled my brush around the lilac moon-like surface and found that whilst it may be tightly packed into the pan, the powder loosened easily and clung to the brush. Then it's just a case of giving your lids a liberal sprinkling!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0856" height="466" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3785/10783881936_c9a6244abb_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Swatch! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upon application, I realised just how intense the pigment really is! I do have to confess that I was a little sceptical before trying it as I've used other Bourjois shadows in the past that have left me less than impressed, to the point where I've had to apply them wet to get the desired intensity. None of that business here!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The glitter contained within is finely milled, which is a <i>big</i> bonus. I don't really like having big clunky, heavy chunks of the stuff on my eyelids! What impressed me most though was the fall-out. We've all been there with glittery shadows, most of it ends up on your cheeks by the end of the day, but the glitter within Intense Extrait stays exactly where you want it. On the lids. YES!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0981" height="448" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/10783845875_39c2f07618_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How intense does this look? It's pretty opaque and you can see that the glitter has stayed put and not gone walkabout all over my cheeks. I HEART that this doubles up as an inner corner highlighter! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0977" height="451" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3786/10784101093_bc2b46d142_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can't 100% verify Bourjois' claim that this stuff lasts 16 hours, the longest I've gone with it on was 12 hours. I do have to say though that it really does stick around, so 16 hours isn't outside the realms of possibility. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm incredibly impressed by this little number from Bourjois. As pretty as their shop displays usually are, I have tended to find myself skipping over it out of ignorance. Intense Extrait has opened my eyes though so I will definitely be giving Bourjois the time of day once more. Not only that, but Intense Extrait has also opened my 'Everyday lids' to the possibility of shades other than beige!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-28265058861967952392013-11-03T11:04:00.000-08:002013-11-24T22:14:17.646-08:00REVIEWS: Illamasqua Kontrol Lipstick<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_0605" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/10650226095_b1cbf3fd47_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As we enter the final stretch of 2013 and life begins to gradually begin to slow down on the run-up to Christmas, I've found myself reminiscing over or 'reviewing' the year so far. I can say without a doubt that 2013 has been the year of experimentation for me. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking back through some of my older posts, I came across one from 2010 that really caught my eye. I'd purchased NYX's Round Lipstick in Snow White, which is a crimson red shade, and I was talking about how I wasn't brave enough to venture outside the house wearing it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How times have changed! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Almost four years on, and rarely do I venture outside the house without a bright lipstick on. But this year I went one further and began toying with alternative shades, and this post is dedicated to one that really stands out: Illamasqua's Kontrol.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0833" height="458" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7438/10650444063_905d4173da_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0841" height="392" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/10650235304_95951709e9_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <i>Swatch!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you can see, Kontrol is a blue based violet with very subtle grey undertones. It's one of those shades that you just won't find in your local Boots or Superdrug, one of the reasons I love Illamasqua so freaking much. It goes completely against the grain. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And there's no half-measures here either, it's richly pigmented, full-on opaque with a smooth, creamy formula that applies effortlessly to the lips. Kontrol isn't quite like Illamasqua's matte lipsticks, where you need to exfoliate your lips and apply some decent lip balm. No, the creamy formula ensures this lipstick requires minimum effort. It's also incredibly forgiving on dry lips and doesn't accentuate any flakes. YES!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd say it's a slightly cool toned lipstick, something I tend to steer well clear of as they generally tend to clash with my skin tone. Illamasqua have surprised me with this one though, as I think it matches up pretty well with my NC37 - NC40 skin tone.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0645" height="424" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5497/10650446243_e978b71a7f_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As for the finish, it isn't quite matte. If anything I'd say it's slap bang in the middle of matte and gloss, more like a velvety-smooth finish. Topshop's Velvet Lips - take note! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The lasting power is pretty good for a non-matte lipstick, by lunchtime I find that it's beginning to wear off a little though so I give it a wee touch up. By the end of the working day my lips are left with a purple-hued stain but with a touch up a few hours after lunch, it actually begins to look more matte than glossy.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0623" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5527/10650249556_fe470a83bc_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0622" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3747/10650252236_e15fe1c9c2_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0606" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7453/10650223605_3eeb2479dd_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sigh </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So beautiful. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Illamasqua's <i>Kontrol</i> is priced at £16.50, so I can understand why people may find this pretty steep for a lipstick. Personally I think it's worth it! If, however, you aren't so sure about it I've heard that Stargazer's 130 lipstick is a pretty good dupe, though it is a lot glossier. That'll set you back £2.99, so might be worth a whirl before you take on the real thing!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Have you tried Illamasqua's Kontrol? What tones are you sporting this season?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-11397322055655974622013-10-28T14:04:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:17.722-08:00OOTD: H&M Autumn Collection 2013 - Embellished Nude Drop Hem Dress<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0754" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/10540594794_6a56ee106e_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello m'dears! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Well, I think it's safe to say that Summer has well and truly ended. Whilst I'm gutted that we'll only be receiving rare sprinklings of sunlight and warmth for the next 6 months, I am looking forward to Autumn/Winter fashion. The glamour of A/W fashion really does compensate for the dark mornings, the dull days, the gloomy afternoons, the bitter cold air and various types of precipitation. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So whilst I'm mourning the death of the warmth, now is the perfect excuse for some winter wardrobe retail therapy. I have to say that H&M have really surprised me so far, I was blown away by their new Autumn Collection. I spotted Velvet Capes, Cut Out Fit & Flare skirts and Luxurious Faux Fur coats but this was <i>the</i> highlight for me. Yes, it's none other than this delicate, embellished chiffon drop hem dress.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Go on, admit it. You love it already, right? It's remarkably similar to the Dip Hem or Hi Lo cut that I've been loving all summer, but the added embellishment makes it perfect for winter. The embellishment is very light, yet gives the piece that air of elegance we so desire and the neckline is very different to anything else I own. It sits along the neck and has a tie-up at the back that feels pretty comfortable, not like you're being strangled!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm always a little skeptical when buying long dresses, fearful that they'll be too long for my petite frame however I was pleasantly surprised with this. The backdrop just about touches my ankles, whilst the higher hem hits around mid-thigh. The fabric is completely sheer so I wore a bodycon underneath, and I can assure you this is as close as I'll ever get to sporting the 'underwear as outerwear' look.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Naturally then, as soon as I discovered this in H&M with its subtle, stylish embellishments, the flowy, ultra-feminine chiffon fabric and the ever-flattering nude colour I just <i>knew </i>it had to be mine.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0742" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2805/10540608874_e3c50377c4_c.jpg" width="424" /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_0703" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7393/10540586956_1a2ecd914b_c.jpg" width="424" /></span> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_0689" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2884/10540592766_b1792417d5_c.jpg" width="389" /> </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0714" height="424" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2844/10540619214_e9c0679fe4_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0745" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3770/10540604494_f46612616e_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0709" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3804/10540582315_baf173468d_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0728" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7449/10540568466_852dc72d1b_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0712" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5499/10540623324_250b8491b6_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0696" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7332/10540589935_b8f4ce9f42_c.jpg" width="396" /> </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0688" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/10540827783_aab80c959c_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><b><span style="font-size: large;"></span></b><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Nude Chiffon Drop Hem Embellished Dress - H & M Autumn Collection </span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gold Cap Toe Dusky Pink Shoes - Primark</span></b></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How stunning is this, really? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Best part? It's just £49.99! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I really am in love with this dress, so much so, I even bought the same one in red! Am I obessessed? Well... err... Yes!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you're in as much awe of this dress as I am, you can get it here: <a href="http://www.hm.com/gb/product/14806?article=14806-A#article=14806-A" target="_blank">LINK! </a></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What do you think of the new Autumn Collection for H&M?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div></span></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-10990166332518238362013-10-27T06:20:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:17.799-08:00REVIEWS: Babyliss 2165BU Pro Hair Crimper <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_0777" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2840/10499039865_d362e70329_c.jpg" width="429" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lately I've been getting a little bit bored with my hair, I wouldn't quite call it a 'rut' just yet, but it's getting close. I've been attempting to grow it out long for a while now, but it's so difficult to resist that urge to chop off a few bits here and there. I'm seriously addicted to cutting my hair, and I'm aware that I have a problem! I do miss having plenty of short, textured layers in amongst longer hair, sigh.</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Instead of getting too hung up about that though, I've been trying a few different things with my hair. Crimping isn't something I've done since an avant-garde look I created for a hairdressing assessment at college. Anyways, I was reminiscing over some old photos I had and wondered what it would look like on my turquoise hair. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I dug out my Babyliss 2165BU Pro Hair Crimper, started adding a couple of crimps into my hair in random sections and things just went from there!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0585" height="416" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3695/10499046386_dac51d1dbb_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's one of those styling tools that just doesn't get used daily so ends up hidden away under the bed collecting dust, a bit like my hair curler! </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0591" height="424" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5500/10499043626_49c794c529_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0588" height="424" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5531/10499066174_bc295034e6_c.jpg" width="640" /></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The plates are ceramice and it comes with 6 heat settings with the highest going up to a scorching 210 celsius, perfect for thicker hair types. The ceramic ensures the plating doesn't stick to the plating but one thing I really don't like about these is the location of the heat setting dial. Take a look above and you'll see the dial is on the <i>inside </i>instead of the outside. So if you need to change the temperature, you need to take care not burn your fingers.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On the plus side it's incredibly quick to heat up, I give it 30 seconds and I can begin the crimping session!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0806" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7425/10499240903_e87c9bfe74_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back to the plating, and as you can see from the photos, it's not wide and wavy. The bumps are tightly packed resulting in 80s-esque super-tight crimps, as opposed to softer waves. If you check back on my Topshop <i>Velvet Lips</i> post you'll see that I went crimp crazy, my hair looking a bit poodle-ish!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The lasting power is surprisingly good, for me it lasts all day without needing to spray on some hairspray. I'm not sure how much of that is to do with the crimper, and how much is to do with my naturally wavy hair but either way: it works for me. </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0817" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/10499031476_6b362bd9a6_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I love how crimpers add extra texture to the hair. It looks incredibly striking, whether you go all out or a little more subtle. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0788" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7307/10499242873_de9c9d3dc7_c.jpg" width="439" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0822" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3715/10499200303_2e1f9c308f_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Babyliss' 2165BU Pro Hair Crimper is currently priced at £19.99 in Boots, a pretty cheap way to experiment with a fun new look. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-59671483383404327802013-10-22T13:37:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:17.873-08:00REVIEWS: Topshop Velvet Lips in Plush<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_0298" height="424" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5488/10426832266_bc795c7761_c.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't know about you, but when I first heard that Topshop were launching their own make up line, I was both a little sceptical and a little intrigued at the same time. Three years later and I have to say that I am constantly impressed by their range, everytime I drop by the make up section it feels fresh and updated, never stale or stagnant. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm a huge fan of liquid lipsticks, the intensity of the full-on colour, the matte finish and the longevity. Naturally then I was freaking excited to see that Topshop's Damned Collection had finally arrived at my local store. Why? It contained the highly anticipated 'Velvet Lips', of course! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Damned Collection has seen Topshop go all gothic on us, something I thought I'd never say! As far as Velvet Lips is concerned, they've given us three choices: Plush, Velveten Ribbon (a luxurious deep red) and Raven (black!). Honestly, I'd have bought them all if I was able to find Raven, but alas I ended up with just the first two. </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0302" height="424" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/10426967833_ab9e9e9e4f_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0305" height="440" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/10426811404_a043ac871e_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Plush is a purple shade with a blue base to it. When applied to the lips, you can detect a faint hint of blue, but the plum easily overwhelms it. The tube gives the impression that there's a metallic element running through it, but that impression fades when actually on the lips.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0328" height="472" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5518/10426808304_a6701db57f_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Velvet Lips is fairly similar to other liquid lipsticks I've used in the past. I applied with the doe footed applicator provided, it applies wet and is dry within seconds to a completely matte, velvety texture. It feels incredibly soft on the lips, and even to the touch. Sounds perfect right? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wrong. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But you have to believe me when I say that I <i>really </i>wanted to like this. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The colour itself isn't truly opaque and actually looks uneven on my lips. I applied another coating which only made matters worse, it began to crumble right off my lips. To prevent the patchiness and give that opaque effect, I found that I had to apply lip liner all over the lips. Disappointing to say the least.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Even when you've applied lip liner beneath, applied the lipstick just once and let it dry it does feel velvety soft, but it's not <i>Topshop </i>quality velvet, it's <i>Primark</i> quality velvet. It begins to powder up on the lips and fall off, I even noticed little flecks on my teeth! And if you want to eat or drink? Forget it. I'm thinking of a film here actually... <i>Gone in 60 Seconds.</i> Yep, that's about right.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having read countless reviews fawning over how wonderful this stuff is, I thought: 'Surely it must be me? It must be that my lips are too dry?' So I even took the extra effort of applying lip balm to give them a bit of added moisture, but that had no effect, and besides I don't have this problem with any of my other liquid lipsticks.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0361" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7366/10426961313_9c3321b4eb_c.jpg" width="452" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_0425" height="441" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3756/10426837465_34537b6f66_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The pictures above were taken about two minutes after applying a coat of lip liner prior to the lipstick. Within five minutes, it had started powdering...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Priced at £10, this is a rip off. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. Buying Topshop's Velvet lips is like buying an old banger for the price of a brand new Ferrari. It's not even anywhere near to being in the same league as Stila or Lime Crime. If anything I'd say it's a bit closer to NYX's Soft Matte Lip Cream. Though there are four differences: NYX doesn't flake off, the colour lasts longer, it applies much more evenly and it's a damn sight cheaper.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would I repurchase? I think I'd need to be flashed with one of those memory-wiping devices they have in Men In Black to make me consider even looking at this product again. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-19247185021536417592013-10-16T14:25:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:17.947-08:00REVIEWS: Illamasqua Precision Gel Eyeliner in Infinity<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_9600" height="447" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7454/10316101894_a0d3258cd0_c.jpg" width="640" /> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This eyeliner addict is back, back with a vengeance and back with another new eyeliner almost 6 months since my last liner post. This is a big deal for me, I find eyeliner to be quite personal. Once I've found one that I like, I remain fiercely loyal. My eyes don't go wandering or flirt with other liners. Last time I wrote on this subject I was in love with Clinique's Brush on Cream Liner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I've been cheating on her, with a newer, younger model... Illamasqua. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">About two months ago, I really started taking my eyeliner skills to a whole new level. From the age of 14 all I've ever concentrated on has been top liner, but this year I asked myself: 'WHAT <i>HAVE</i> I BEEN DOING?!'</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After experimenting with the Retro 60s eye make up looks, it hit me that my beloved Clinique Gel Liner was no longer cutting it. Don't get me wrong, it works beautifully as a top liner, but if you want to venture anywhere else around the eye it suddenly appears less opaque and fades much quicker - even when I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion beneath it. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So with two new-found revelations playing on my mind I paid a visit to <a href="https://twitter.com/paddybaston" target="_blank">Paddy</a> at the Illamasqua coutner in Manchester's Selfridges. He really is a very talented make up artist, his make up is always flawless like a mannequin. And the best thing? He's self-taught, which means there's hope for me yet! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9648" height="424" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3740/10316101014_6d09bf3fa9_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I told Paddy about my eyeliner woes, that I was bored of top liner only looks and that Clinique just wasn't satisfying me any longer, and he recommended Illamasqua's Precision Gel Eyeliner in Infinity. Looking at the tester in store it had been used to the max yet still managed to look super creamy, very similar to Clinique's but blacker. Black like the night!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9653" height="440" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3728/10316192116_2d648b6bda_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Naturally I bought it straight away, raced home and applied.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It applied like a dream. Very smoothly without any tugging. It felt creamy, very creamy but not quite as creamy as my beloved Clinique. This wasn't an issue though, as it glided effortlessly on to the skin and allowed me to create beautifully crisp, solid lines around my lids, lash line and crease area.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What pleased me most about this, was the dark intensity. It is just ridiculously black. My first thought was: '<b>this is what Inglot's AMC Gel Liner should have been</b>'. Inglot's Gel Liner is just about as black as Illamasqua's however the application and removal is a nightmare. There's less drag in a transvestite bar, and I actually needed to use soap to remove. Soap.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But with Illamasqua, this problem does not exist. It is <i>the</i> most perfect gel liner I have ever used. It's like Clinique and Inglot got together, had a wild night of loving and conceived an illicit love child that adopted the best qualities of both and dumped the worst.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The finish is matte, it doesn't budge, it doesn't flake off. And despite the ice-cold, tear-inducing, hurricane-like winds we've been experiencing lately in Manchester this beaut has managed to stay put. Illamasqua make the claim that it's water-resistant and nowhere will put that claim to the test more than Manchester, so far it's winning!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9551" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7414/10316106984_4f5e204209_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How intense is this, really? LOVE. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9576" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7342/10316103124_ef47c9b898_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9560" height="424" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3684/10316148906_119394de50_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9575" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7319/10316147596_c961785977_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So now you know how easy it is to apply and how great it looks on, how does it come off? Well, there's no let-up there either. It comes off easily with my Super Facialist Vitamin C+ Renew Cleansing Oil. No soap required!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have to say that with Illamasqua's Gel Liner in my armoury, I feel much more confident in creating more adventurous looks. I have a liner that is sharp, precise, bold and black that applies like a dream and removes easily.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It will set you back £18 for a little 5 gram pot, but whilst the pot may be little it lasts a freaking long time. I've had mine for two months now, I'm nowhere near halfway through and it's still as creamy as ever. Would I repurchase? YES!!</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-55796801181699383742013-10-13T06:44:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.021-08:00OOTD: Velvet Opulence <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_9949" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/10121436506_3ab6a55a7f_c.jpg" width="424" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As winter begins to approach, lurking just around the corner, the temperatures have begun to plummet. And this time of year always brings with it internal conflict. See, I hate winter almost as much as I love it. I hate the cold, I hate the lack of sun hours, I hate the aftermath of snow when it becomes all compacted, icey and slippery. On the other hand, I love Winter fashion, winter fabrics, the temporary cheer from November through to December, the fact that people find it acceptable to wear shiny glittery clothes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But my favourite thing about winter is Velvet. It oozes class and opulence as well as providing a bit of much-needed extra warmth.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple of weeks back I was scouring eBay for a velvet skirt. I could feel the days getting shorter and the air getting colder and felt like I needed something to look forward to, to help me deal with the forthcoming doom and gloom. I found a little more than I had bargained for: I found this beautiful two piece set. It's a black velvet skirt with matching top, but these are no ordinary pieces. No, the set was definitely out of the ordinary. If Topshop or Asos were selling it, it'd be sold-out in minutes. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What makes it so extra-ordinary? Well, the golden, Baroque-style embroidery that lines the bottom of the skirt and the edge of the sleeves is what truly sets this apart. I couldn't recall having ever seen anything quite like this before, certainly not on velvet. Topshop had a very nice velvet range last A/W, but in truth it was just a little plain. This though...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The skirt is one of these 'fit and flare' types, but unlike the very loose and flimsy skater skirts, the velvet feels a firmer with much more structure to it. The embroidered sleeves are also flared outwards, also quite firmly but in a wavy, frilly style. The outfit doesn't scream opulence to me, it looks down it's nose at me and says: </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>"You ought to consider yourself fortunate that I'm allowing myself to be worn by you."</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've found myself just staring at it trying to figure out what could have influenced the design, but the more I look at it, the more I see! Overall the piece looked at first as if it was a Black, Velvety take on the traditional Red, Silk Chinese dress. Then the shoulder outline created by the flaring out of the sleeve reminded me of Spanish Matadors! I couldn't even begin to place the style in any era, it looks so luxurious it could fit into any era. Timeless.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9963" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7437/10121495823_c6ac93b971_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9968" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3665/10121426976_006d75a131_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9975" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/10121424186_1867d73732_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9982" height="424" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2864/10121488123_8f79f30deb_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9942" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7377/10121735106_cfb63b7367_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Velvet Baroque Fit & Flare Skirt & Matching Top - eBay</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gold Studded Skinny Belt - Gift</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lace Body Suit - Topshop </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gold Arrow Braclet - H & M</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.kenzaaccessories.com/bug-bites-necklace-166-p.asp" target="_blank">Bug Bites Necklace - Kenza Accessories</a>*</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9955" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3735/10121433846_6bb7e650a1_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, what do you think? Also, check out that necklace! As soon as I saw this on <a href="http://www.kenzaaccessories.com/" target="_blank">Kenza Accessories site</a>, I thought 'I have <i>got </i>to have this!' Then when it arrived through the mailbox, I was taken aback. It had this look to it, I could imagine that if the Ancient Egyptians were still around today, their style would have evolved into something a bit like this. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope you're all having a lovely weekend, I'm still recovering from Vogue's Fashion's Night Out in Manchester. It was great to see an event like this happening up North, and judging by the girls I saw out, we've got every bit as much style as the girls of London!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-59413597106281518742013-10-06T12:50:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.108-08:00Lima's Guide to the Galaxy... Nails!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_8166" height="443" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5503/9999189445_39bf697c6a_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8158" height="459" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5550/9999171196_a3f3c87876_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Galaxy Nails!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think I've probably mentioned this before, but ever since I was a young girl I've had this fascination with the night sky. I was never one to really pay all that much attention at school, but one subject that always managed to hook me in was physics. Well, the astronomy bits at least! My curious mind would drag me to the library at weekends so that I could read every book and look at every photo I'd get my hands on.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And just recently I became the proud owner of a telescope! Sadly though, living in a large urban conurbation like Manchester means that light pollution tends to get a little in the way of serious star-gazing. Looks like a trip south to the villages in Cheshire, like Alderley Edge, might be in order! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Either way, the Universe is beautiful. I think it's allure, similar to the ocean, stems from the sense of the unknown. Whilst we huamns are prone to fear that of which we know little, there's also a stong sense of wonderment that emerges as you begin to dip your toes into the wide expanses that mankind knows so little of, yet what we do know of is so breathtaking.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I guess you could describe the universe as a beautiful mess, or structured chaos. And that's the spirit in which I attempted these nail: to make an imperfectly perfect look.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8223" height="462" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/9999545766_46554146c0_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">L - R: Eyeko Indigo, Orly Sweet Peacock*, Rimmel 60 Seconds Mary Mary Quite Contrary, Barry M Nail Paint Pink Flamingo & Topshop Ice Crush </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Whilst it may look like a mish-mash of randomness, there definitely was a structure and some organisation to pulling together this look. From the photo above, I used each polish from left to right. First I painted two coats of Eyeko's Indigo straight on to the nails, letting them dry completely. The next step was the fun bit. I got out the sponge for some galactic magic! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the spongey bit, I dabbed a bit of Orly's Sweet Peacock on to one section of the sponge followed by a few dabs of Rimmel's 60 Seconds Mary Mary Quite Contrary on another section and then some of the Barry M Pink Flamingo on a third section. Then, one section at a time, I dabbed the sponge on to the nail creating a different galactical pattern each time, making sure I left a few areas of the nail untouched to give that 'Space' effect. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> The <i>Pièce de résistance </i>is of course Topshop's Ice Crush. I mean, what kind of a galaxy doesn't have stars in it? I simply applied a thin coating to the nails one by one, after I'd dabbed on the patterns with the sponge.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Worthy Mentions</b> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8230" height="457" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5482/9999543286_e7f200c9fa_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Orly's Sweet Peacock* from the Fall 2011 Birds of a Feather collection. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have a confession to make on this one ladies (and gents?), I was sent this for review way back in 2011. I applied it once, didn't really think all that much of it at the time so I stored it in my big box of nail polishes. Over time it must have worked its way to the very bottom and only by chance did I stumble across it again. The good news is its now firmly back at the top of the pile, the bad news is its no longer available. This will no doubt end up being a staple for me over the winter, lighting up the short, dull, dreary days with it's gorgeous shimmery electric blue finish.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8252" height="454" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3801/9999479515_4004877b78_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I always come away after buying glittery nail polishes feeling a little cheated. After all, it would probably work out cheaper (and often better) to jusy buy a clear polish and some cheap glitter from a stationery shop and use that. But Tophop's<b><i> Ice Crush</i></b> bucks that trend for me. This is my 'go-to' glitter polish, and I'm currently midway my third bottle. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think what really does it for me is the two different shapes and sizes of the glitter. This then makes it perfect for this look as it really does seal the deal in terms of making the look seem quite realistic!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8168" height="457" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3709/9999168746_4c1899aeaf_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8157" height="460" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5524/9999172696_398f343318_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8141" height="458" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5509/9999174116_b22d567431_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8120" height="418" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7348/9999248093_6d08b116cc_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As complex, crazy and chaotic as these nails may look, it was shockingly easy to pull it off. At first glance you'd probably think that this is going to take up a lot of your time and effort, but I think it took me about 20 minutes on the first attempt!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What helped out though, was <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DJjBRvf1rR8" target="_blank">MissJenFABULOUS</a>' tutorial video. I'd urge you to take a look and come up with some stunning designs of your own! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-34005430677962330752013-09-29T09:26:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.184-08:00FOTD: MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow in Bleuluxe<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_9487" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7315/9988467076_0dd4a5efc9_c.jpg" width="464" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think I may have mentioned this previously, but I never allow myself to get too excited by an upcoming MAC collection anymore. Usually there's a couple of months worth of pre-launch hype and teasers attempting to make you really want it, then when you go into your nearest MAC counter you have a little browse and notice that it really isn't all that. Even if there is something in there genuinely worth getting excited about, you tend to find that it goes out of stock within minutes. Literally, minutes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So when MAC started hyping up their Indulge collection I found myself a little surprised. There were a couple of items that actually caught my interest. When the collection was finally released, I had to visit all three MAC counters to get my hands on the one thing I was <i>dying</i> to try. Only one counter had received any of it, and even then they only received three. Yes, that's three for the whole of Manchester!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So what was it then? It was of course the Three Ring Yellow eyeshadow. I was also interested by the Gilt Gourmet Fluidline, which shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but it seems MAC produced quite a lot of that so I didn't have any difficulty getting it. Even though it was a bit irritating to be traipsing around Manchester looking for Three Ring Yellow, every cloud has a silver lining.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Except in my case it was more of bluey-silvery lining. While I was trying out the first MAC counter, in Selfridges, my attention was diverted away from the Indulge collection momentarily by the Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palettes, there are six different varieties from pink through to brown, but I naturally opted for the blue one, named Bleuluxe. I swatched it on my wrist and was blown away by quite how sparkly it looked, it's also a little sheer but the microscopic glitter had me entranced. Despite the annoying lack of Three Ring Yellow, I couldn't just leave empty handed so I purchased this little surprise package instead.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DSC_9687" height="424" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/9988532183_506c9054c3_c.jpg" width="640" /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DSC_9696" height="424" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2847/9988411174_a4623f3dfb_c.jpg" width="640" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">How stunning does this look? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Maybe it was my disappointment about Three Ring Yellow being out of stock (although technically it was never <i>in</i> stock), maybe it was the misleading fluorescent lighting in-store, maybe it was just me acting on impulse or more likely it was a mixture of all three. Either way, I was fooled.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As gorgeous as it looks in the photos, this palette is truly ordinary. Ordinary is probably being a little bit generous actually. The flourescent lighting definitely played its part in MAC's trickery, beaming down on to every tiny little piece of glitter on the swatch, accentuating the shine and sparkle. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When I took it home, I packed on Bleuluxe 3 (the medium blue in the middle) all over the lid. The colour was quite soft, very sheer and the tiny little glitter particles transferred onto the lid quite nicely, though it did feel a little heavy. I was very, very disappointed with the lack of colour, to the extent I actually wiped it back off. I prefer my eyeshadows to be opaque, and I was probably being naive to think that an opaque, sparkly eyeshadow exists!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After a bit of experimentation I found that to bring out a more intense finish, I needed to apply this wet. This results in a kind of semi-opaque, metallic finish and even then, it doesn't have anywhere near enough intensity for my liking. In the end, I grabbed my tried-and-tested Sleek Ultra Matte Brights Palette, applied the colour 'Bolt' over the lid and lower lash line, with a dab of 'Sugarlite' in the centre of both the lid and lower lash line to add a bit of dimension to the finished eye look.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To complete the look, I applied Bleuluxe 3 all on top of the Sleek Colours. And applied Bleuluxe 1, which is the pale silver, in the inner corners of my eyes.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The results were astonishing.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DSC_9508" height="536" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3699/9988407095_3d270fb08b_c.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DSC_9507" height="556" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7305/9988409125_41bb08ae0b_c.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DSC_9496" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5487/9988536963_864bb869e3_c.jpg" width="447" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>THE REST OF MY FACE: </b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*FACE*</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">YSL Touche Éclat Foundation in BD50 (MAC equivelant NC37-NC40)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">NARS Powder Foundation in Barcelona</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*CHEEKS*</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Crush</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*LIPS<span style="font-size: small;">*</span></b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MAC Lipstick in Dark Side mixed with RiRi Woo</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> (thank you to my <a href="http://www.dolcevanity.com/" target="_blank">LaaLaa</a> for the RiRi ♥)</span></span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The finished look is beautiful when using an opaque base eyeshadow underneath, for my look I used the ever-reliable Sleek Ultra Matte Brights palette, but in reality you can just use your own favourite opaque shadow. As good as this look is, there is a teeny-weeny little caveat. The fall-out is pretty bad as you should always expect from a glittery eyeshadow, by the end of the day I had glitter particles all over my face!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As far as the MAC Veluxe Pearlfusion Shadow palette goes, if you are into your big, bold, opaque eyeshadows then I'd give this a miss. It isn't big, it isn't bold, it isn't opaque and it probably shouldn't even be called an eyeshadow either. It's just tightly pressed glitter in a palette. </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having said that, the festive season is on it's way so I'll be using this quite often, if only to make sure I get my thirty quids worth of usage out of it. Yes that's right. £30. Would I repurchase? No. It is ridiculously expensive for what it is and you could purchase a couple of Barry M's Dazzle Dusts to achieve a similar look at a fraction of the price.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sorry MAC, must do better!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-11114234745798403032013-09-24T13:53:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.269-08:00My Two Week Trial with the Nokia Lumia 925!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_9835" height="424" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5332/9921971786_97927c1c75_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, a couple of weeks ago I received an e-mail offering me the chance to try out the Nokia Lumia 925. I have to admit that I was pretty excited, as well as surprised. Who'd have thought a Fashion & Beauty blogger would be sent a phone?! Well, my excitement was curtailed a bit when I discovered it was only for two weeks. How am I supposed to get to grips with a new phone within two weeks?</span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd read a little bit about the phone and recalled their adverts talking about how great the camera is in low light, so I took them up on their offer and duly received it a few days later. Straight out of the box it does look pretty special: piano black at the front, creamy white at the back, huge screen but super slim. A good first impression, but from there on in it was all downhill.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9811" height="424" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/9922111803_3e5daed490_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's not to say this is a rubbish phone, because it isn't. There are so many good things about it, I probably couldn't describe them all in one post but I will at least cover a few. Firstly, the screen is like a work of art. It's bigger than my iPhone 4s, and isn't a funny looking shape like the iPhone 5. It felt quite responsive and the graphics were so smooth and dreamy. The camera is far better than the iPhone 4s. I find my usual phone's camera struggles to find light, with photos quite often looking dull. The Lumia camera found light in almost all situations, and I have to say I was impressed by that.</span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9784" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7445/9922018844_486e456bfc_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">What I was <i>not </i>impressed by though was Windows 8. It's a bit like Marmite. You either love it or you hate it, and I hate it with a passion. The main menu is awful, with an assortment of different sized-squares, mostly in a child-like and garish blue colour with useless icons that didn't seem to make much sense. Maybe after a while you'd get used to it, but I didn't really have a while. I had two weeks. If you swipe in from the left a list-style menu with all your apps appears, this is a little better but it isn't a patch on the Apple or Android menu systems.</span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As much as I hated Windows 8, I think I might have been able to live with this phone had it not been for one fatal flaw. Instagram. You cannot download Instagram on to this phone. From a blogger's perspective, one that makes heavy usage of Social Media, this was unacceptable. There are workarounds though: you could probably use Instagram via Internet Explorer, or more realistically you can download other free apps which interface with Instagram such as Hipstamatic Oggl. I could not for the life of me get this to work. The app kept on crashing everytime I tried to do something, and the terrible icons Windows 8 insists on using were so confusing, I couldn't even work out how to post a photo to Instagram.</span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <img alt="DSC_9766" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7380/9922114593_c7ab8a74bc_c.jpg" width="424" /></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, maybe more technically minded souls could have managed to get this phone to work beautifully for them but I couldn't. Perhaps it was the lack of time, perhaps it was the badly designed Windows 8 or perhaps the Hipstamatic Oggl app just isn't any good. I don't know. But to be honest, I don't care. I don't <i>want</i>to have to use workarounds. I want to be able to access Instagram easily, but this phone wouldn't let me. What's the point of having a phone that takes great photos, if you can't use the biggest photo sharing app on the net?</span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div align="CENTER" class="" style="margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So for all the flaws that my iPhone 4s has, it lets me do all the basic things I expect from a smartphone (Tweet, Whatsapp, Photos, Instagram, Email, Phone and Text) without any trouble. There is absolutely no way I would purchase this Nokia, it has potential for sure. But if I'm to give up something that is the finished article, I want something that's going to take me forward, not hold me back.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-78257358063542902612013-09-21T13:33:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.352-08:00OUTFITS: Modern Geisha<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_9433" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7379/9859901856_d7cc574a43_c.jpg" width="424" /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Guess who's back with another outfit post! Not only is it another outfit post, it's another Kimono! You might well be thinking I'm stuck in a silky, kimono-cut rut, but I just can't get enough of my gorgeous kimonos, so sue me! ;)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">To be fair though the kimonos in my collection are all very different to each other, each one with its own unique, gorgeous print. A prime exanple is the one featured today. I purchased it recently from H&M of all places, it stood out for two very obvious reasons: it's bright purple and it's <i>so</i> long. I scoured the rack desperately looking for my size and let out a squeal when I found it. I just <i>needed </i>to buy this because I have nothing else like it, my wardrobe is completely devoid of anything purple.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once you get past that bright purple and pink print, you'll realise why this isn't quite like the other kimonos I've been wearing recently, this one goes all the way down to the ankles. So instead of using it as the jacket to an outfit, I've used this one as the dress, the main event. With it's bold print, chiffon fabric instead of the traditional silk, and the gold studded belt I wrapped around it, it feels to me a bit like a modern-day twist on the Geisha. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_9439" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2822/9859883425_b7aa5f8572_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9435" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7318/9859888225_0e94cfa3a4_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9416" height="449" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5516/9859880454_cab3865eb5_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9437" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7323/9859871324_5086b837ac_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Full Length Kimono - H&M</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gold Studded Skinny Belt - Gift</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.boohoo.com/restofworld/skirts/midi-skirts/icat/midi-skirts/midi-skirts/lexi-midi-jersey-tube-skirt/invt/azz42989" target="_blank">Black Lexi Jersey Midi Skirt - Boohoo</a></span><br /><a href="http://instagram.com/secretstatement#" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">J Crew Crystal Cluster Necklace Replica - Secret Statement</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been lusting after those really expensive J Crew Necklaces for quite a while now, but why shell out all that cash when you can achieve a similar effect for a fraction of the price? Well, I stumbled upon Secret Statement on Instagram not so long ago and they do an awesome replica/dupe of the infamous Crystal Cluster Necklace for just £10. Now that's a statement, and it's within a normal person's price range! Have a little peek here: <a href="http://instagram.com/secretstatement#" target="_blank">LINK!</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope you're all having a fun-filled weekend, my voice has withered away into a frog-like croak which for someone who loves to talk like I do is annoying! On the plus side, I'm snuggled up in bed midway through a Harry Potter marathon!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So until next time, Expelliarmus!</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-51905276718541527372013-09-16T13:02:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.425-08:00REVIEWS: Heaven by Deborah Mitchell Bee Venom Mask<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_9673" height="433" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7335/9776513716_24392e47fb_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Heaven's Bee Venom Mask </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ok, so to answer your first question: Yes. It <i>does</i> contain Bee Venom. To answer your second question: the Bee Venom tricks the skin into 'thinking' it has been stung, thus kickstarting the production of collagen and elastin. And to answer your third question: No, it doesn't hurt like a bee sting! Intrigued? You should be!</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For those who are interested in these kind of things, Kate Middleton and Camilla Parker Bowles are said to be fans of this, I'm not 100% certain whether that's a good selling point or not, but hey.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As well as the headline ingredient, this cream also contains slighlty less eye-catching ingredients such as Manuka Honey, Shea Butter and Rose Lavender essential oils. Having said that, if you Google Manuka Honey, check out how expensive it can be! But back to Heaven, they claim their Bee Venom Mask is:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">'<i><b>Nature's Alternative to Botox</b></i>.'</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now you're definitely intrigued...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm in my mid twenties so botox is certainly off the agenda at the moment, but this stuff well and truly saved my skin during Ramadhan. Whilst fasting the skin becomes incredibly dehydrated, dull and all around lacklustre. My usual Hydralauron just wasn't doing anything for me, but the Bee Venom stepped up.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The product itself is a cream, a very creamy cream that is neither light nor heavy, slap-bang in the middle. There are two ways of using this product. You can either use it as a mask, applying to the face and leaving it on for 20 minutes before wiping off, or you can just apply it over your moisturiser day and night. I opted for the latter.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I applied a tiny amount all over my face, including under the eyes. Upon application, you'll feel your skin tingle and perhaps even see a little redness around the nose and cheeks. There's no real pain here, just a mild tingly sensation that actually subsides after a few applications. My skin quite literally drank this up, leaving behind a gorgeous glow as if my skin was actually happy :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Within a week, my skin had completely transformed. The dryness had departed, and my skin didn't feel anywhere near as thirsty as it has done before. I felt it had injected some much needed moisture into my skin, really plumping it up. I'd wake up with an immense glow, and with tinted moisturiser or foundation on top the glow remained almost as if I had highlighter on, minus the shimmer. On top of that, my skin looked and felt so much softer.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A lot of us ladies find the under eye area to be quite troublesome. You know how it can look quite dull, dark and tired? Well this stuff has perked my under-eyes right up, the lines I've recently noticed beneath the eyes have smoothed out, not disappeared, just much less noticeable. I had a friend ask me what I was using as my skin reminded her of Mariah Carey's soft, glowing skin, ha!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now for the final question: How much does it cost? Well, bear in mind that I have the 15ml jar and I used it night and day, every day; I was amazed that it lasted just over a month! It cost £23.50 for the 15ml jar, which works out at about £1.50 per ml. I realise how expensive that sounds (and it is), but given the effect it has had on my skin, I will be purchasing the full 50ml jar. I don't think I can explain just how much I am anticipating payday!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">*PR Sample</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-23467648728747486082013-09-09T09:50:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.499-08:00The Necklace So Good I Wore it on My Head<div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By now you should all be fully aware of my love for a bit of bling. Recently I've ventured into the world of Matha Pattis, having seen them at weddings all of my life. But only now I actually appreciate how gorgeous they are!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the moment I'm at a stage of my life where I'm really feeling the whole 'fusion' idea, mixing east with west. It reflects who I am. I am a product of various influences: my roots and where I grew up. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I digress!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've already posted a couple of photos embracing the wondrous and mythical Matha Patti, and they truly are wondrous. But you know me, always trying to push the limit. I was having a wee look around Zara when I spotted this beautiful necklace. At first I imagined it around my neck: 'Which dress would this go best with?' I thought.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But then, my mind went all walkabout. <i><b>What if I put it on my head?</b></i> It'd look pretty awesome as a Matha Patti! This might not be news to some of you, but to me this idea seemed like genius! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_9661" height="463" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3714/9699867867_2bcfd33e86_z.jpg" width="640" /> <img alt="DSC_9666" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7460/9699854095_b7a9e982df_z.jpg" width="640" /></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_9020_effected" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5484/9699874927_a7f55f5cb8_c.jpg" width="474" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i>I parted my fringe to the side and put the headpiece right on! </i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9043" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3784/9699870365_108ecd395c_c.jpg" width="461" /></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Since I'd never tried to wear a big, clunky, heavy necklace on my head before, putting it on for the first time was more than just a little troublesome. Eventually though I figured it out, even summoning the courage to wear it out to dinner! During the evening I was asked: 'Where <i>did</i> you get that gorgeous head-piece from?' WINNING!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next time you fancy mixing things up in the accessory department, remember: just because it <i>says</i> it's a necklace, it doesn't mean that's all it can ever be.. So be bold, pick out that old necklace you used to love, plonk it on your head and see what happens. You never know, it might just work!</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I feel that at this point I should mention <span class="short_text" id="result_box" lang="fr"><span class="hps">ma belle</span> <span class="hps">couturière</span> <span class="hps">Française (my lovely French seamstress). She has totally inspired me to look at fashion in a whole new light. Suddenly the piles of old clothes I have, past their sell-by date, look more like opportunities to create new things as opposed to a waste of space. She really hates the very idea of 'disposable fashion' and thinks that our old clothes can be fused into something new and unique.</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Have you ever done anything crazy with your accessories? Breathed new life into your old clothes? If so, tell me all about it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-63428551973731438472013-09-03T13:16:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.573-08:00FOTD: MAC Indulge Collection Make Up Look <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I know that a new MAC release is supposed to be a big deal, people who aren't even in to make up get all giddy and excited over it. I don't. The promotional photos rarely ever appeal to me, they're totally unrelateable. So it came as a great surprise to me when I saw the promo snaps for the new Indulge Fall Collection. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The shot that really struck a chord with me had an amazingly pretty lady with a wash of yellow-gold eyeshadow and lashings of thick black eyeliner. It actually looks remarkably similar to what I've been sporting recently, very retro glam, think 60s! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Obviously I couldn't just wait until MAC release the collection over here in the UK, I had to re-create the look. Like, now! I had a good old rummage through piles and piles of make-up and came up with this:</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="macindulge3" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7301/9664170521_7e94da401b_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="macindulge" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7341/9667412762_ff43579cd3_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="macindulge2" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3706/9667407856_09e57a7f62_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="MACIndulgeFOTD_effected" height="508" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2857/9667394308_1b0a4a6f95_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="MACIndulgeEOTD_effected" height="584" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5325/9667397548_2d54cbca8e_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">PRODUCTS USED:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*FACE*</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">YSL Touche Éclat Foundation in BD50 (MAC equivelant NC37-NC40)</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MAC Prep+Prime LoosePowder</span></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*CHEEKS*</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Crush</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*EYES*</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Yellow Shade from the Sleek Ultra Matte Palette Bright V1 e/s</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Urban Decay Half Baked e/s ( over Sleek's yellow shade )</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Bourjois Little Round Pot in Beige Rose e/s ( Inner Corner Highlight )</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Illamasqua Precision Gel Liner in Infinity</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Rimmel London Scandal Eyes Kohl Liner in Nude ( Waterline ) </span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>*LIPS*</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">MAC Lipstick in Diva</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can you believe that I didn't use MAC on the eyes? It just goes to show how dupe-able products really are. Despite that, I still cannot wait to get my hands on Gilt Gourmet Fluidline and Just a Bite lipstick. I don't have anything like the Gilt Gourmet in my own personal collection, so I'm devastated that it's already sold out online! As soon as it hits the stores, I'm there. Buying ten.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the promo photo the woman was wearing a nude lipstick - think 'concealer lips'. I'm sure she's wearing Smash Hit lipstick and I can imagine this looking quite flattering on paler skin tones, but I haven't even <i>looked</i> at a nude lipstick in years. I feel I've moved past that stage now, so I painted on my beloved MAC Diva. I just <i>cannot</i> stop wearing this shade lately - the sumptuous, warming dark burgundy feels strangely comforting as the cold, harsh winter approaches.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In other news, I must apologise for my lack of online activity recently. I've been working on a couple of projects and have been struggling to find a balance although I did manage to find my way to Paperchase to purchase a diary that will keep me organised. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Me? Organised? Well... There's a first for everything ;) </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have lots and lots to post about, so stay tuned!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-72615446038690862392013-08-27T12:27:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.647-08:00OUTFITS: Mesmerising in Monochrome - Charlize's Chevron Kimono<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_8958" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2867/9603852136_6b7b2c431f_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Hello hello! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It definitely won't be news to my regular readers that I have an undying love for all things Kimono, and as each week goes by it seems that my collection just grows and grows! But I don't just buy any old Kimono, no no no! I look for the ones made with gorgeously floaty, feminine fabrics and dreamy prints. I just love the versatility of them and could easily wear Kimonos 365 days a year.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A couple of months back I came across Charlize Kimonos on Instagram. They're a brand new, indie company formed by two Australian mums that focus 100% on kimono goodness. Heaven!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There are plenty of kimonos knocking about on the high streets and the bigger online retailers nowadays, however it can be bit of a struggle to find the right prints. I want something different, something unique. The ladies at Charlize have got it spot on. All you have to do is pick the fabric you like, choose from 5 different lengths and wait for your garment to be hand-sewn and shipped. It may take a good few weeks to drop through your mailbox, but it's worth the wait. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I chose the Chevron kimono, though in all honesty if money wasn't a factor I'd have ordered everything... TWICE!! But alas, my mad experiments in the basement to grow a money tree have failed so far. So I gave my measurements to these lovely ladies and a few weeks later, it had arrived.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I have to say, when I tore open the parcel and pulled out the kimono I was a little surprised at the cut. I'm much more used to the fitted style, but this was much looser and more like a cape. I wasn't 100% sure about it at first, but after parading around for a while in front of the mirror (el oh el), it really grew on me. This truly was unique.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It also inspired me to go all out monochrome for the first time in ages, so I hunted through my wardrobe, ended up in Narnia, had tea with Mr Tumnus, came back again and found this old black and white pleated dress I bought from Topshop. I have no idea when I bought this, except to say that it definitely wasn't recently! I wrapped my favourite gold studded skinny belt around it, et voila! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_8955" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3813/9603855648_9d1ecbde62_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8985" height="399" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7326/9603841866_df8e513d91_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8965" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7337/9603848140_5d18a544ec_c.jpg" width="439" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8953" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5333/9603858966_d809a57e7d_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Black and White Heavy Pleated Dress - TOPSHOP</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Chevron Kimono - Charlize Kimonos</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Sadly Charlize don't have a website up yet (not that I know of anyway), however you can place an order on their <b>Facebook (<a href="https://www.facebook.com/charlizekimono/" target="_blank">LINK!</a>)</b> or via their <b>Instagram (<a href="http://instagram.com/charlize_kimono" target="_blank">LINK!</a>)</b>. Now just try explaining that to your mother, as if the internet and eBay weren't baffling enough:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> '<i>You bought a what from where?!</i>' </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When payday comes around, I'll be back on their Instagram going crazy for Kimonos. Take that high street.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-65927808626761924202013-08-25T07:52:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.723-08:00FOTD: Edie Sedgwick Inspired 60s Retro Make Up Look <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_8927" height="506" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7403/9588265117_06e4594b30_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking back at the year so far, I've really been starting to experiment more with my make up. I've grown a bit tired of the typical top liner and mascara combination and the smokey eyes I roll out for those special occasions. I wanted to try something a bit different, something I'd never really done before.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So I looked back in time to see what people a little further back were doing with make up, and found that the women of the 60s had some interesting techniques going on. I came to the realisation that 60s eye make up will be my signature look for 2013, and that I must have been born in the wrong era! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd say that the main inspiration behind my experimentation is Edie Sedgwick, who was brought to my attention by <a href="http://www.dolcevanity.com/" target="_blank">Laa Laa</a> (big thank you!). Just a quick Google Image search shows that this lady oozed class, her make up always looked incredible, yet so so simple! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />Over the years I've kinda got into this routine with my everyday eye make up, which consists of a wash of white or cream eyeshadow on the lids. It's not too dissimilar to the kind of shadow used back then, so perhaps that plays a part as to why it has appealed so much to me. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I think that the biggest draw for me is the sheer amount of eyeliner involved. I've been using it since I was 15 and it'd just be criminal for me <i>not</i> to use any. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Eyeliner is my crack.</b></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If there were an 'Eyeliners Anonymous' I'd probably go, but when they say they're trying to help wean me off it, I'd scream and crash through the window, running home quickly so I can roll around on the bed with my Clinique Brush on Cream Liner.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyways... My 60s Style Make Up is ever evolving, no two looks are the same as I continue to play around and experiment. It's quite a bold look and some may say that it's too bold to rock out every day, but you know what? F**k the rules. If I've got the time, why not? ;)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now onto the evidence:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_8852" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5517/9590977820_1db3474e37_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Exhibit A: Thick Eyebrows, Rose Red Lips and Wavy Eye Shadow</span></i> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8861" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2862/9590976600_b115881560_c.jpg" width="403" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Exhibit B: From the side...</i></span> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8925" height="523" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/9588266521_4877e9b12e_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Exhibit C: Thick Black Lines hug the Eye-line, before breaking away</span></i> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8904" height="412" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3691/9588268489_4c3e98e9ff_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Exhibit D: Close up on the Contacts, my actual pupil is still visible!</i></span> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>*FACE*</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">YSL Touche Éclat Foundation in BD50 (MAC equivelant NC37-NC40)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">MAC Prep+Prime LoosePowder </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>*CHEEKS*</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Illamasqua Cream Blusher in Crush</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fake Bake Bronzey Babe Bronzer Compact</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>*EYES*</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">MAC E/S in Orb <span style="font-size: small;">(wash over eyelids)</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Clinique Brush On Cream Liner in True Black <span style="font-size: small;">(top liner and flicks)</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benefit Badgal Smouldering Black Eye Pencil <span style="font-size: small;">(lower lashline)</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Pixi Glow Tinker Bell Fairy Dust <span style="font-size: small;">(inner corner highlight)</span></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benefit Eye Bright Pencil <span style="font-size: small;">(waterline and brow bone)</span> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Soap & Glory Thick & Fast Mascara </span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>*LIPS*</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Stila Stay All Day Liquid Lipstick in Beso </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So that was my 60s Style Make Up look! As I'm experimenting so much, with no two looks being the same and a few variations here or there, I feel I need to start investing more into my eyeliners. For the flick on the upper and lower lash lines, I've been using the Clinique Gel Liner which lacks the kind of precision and colour intensity that I want. I'll be looking into purchasing a felt-tipped liner to give me that, which should elevate this look to new heights!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been spending a lot more time recently on my make up, and as a result my skills are improving and my confidence is growing. The old saying really is true:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><b>"Practice Makes Perfect..."</b></i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'd encourage everyone reading to mix things up a bit with their look and try something new, what's the worst that could happen? I will definitely be experimenting more and more, and will be posting new looks in the not-too-distant future!<i><b> </b></i></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's been a little while since my last post, so apologies for that but life has been very, very busy recently and I've just been so tired! But, I had some exciting news on Friday so the blogging bug has bitten me again! :)<i><b> </b></i> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tell me about what, or who, inspires your make up looks? How often do you try something fresh?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-70554633799911294562013-08-17T13:38:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.799-08:00REVIEWS: NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer in St Moriz<div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_8292" height="450" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5469/9509864339_2d4692b8dc_c.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Tinted Moisturisers...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I remember using tinted moisturiser quite often during my teens, it might take some effort but try to think back to the days when Nivea had just two shades. Two shades! Oh how the industry was lacking back then.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was never really that keen on Nivea's version either to be honest, the lack of coverage for an adolescent teen with raging cystic acne was almost as appalling as the lack of shade range. It completely turned me off the idea of tinted moisturisers, and I hadn't bothered trying any since. Until last year that is.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That was when NARS launched their very own range of tinted moisturisers. As we all know NARS have a brilliant range of foundations with shades to suit pretty much any skin tone, so upon hearing of the launch I knew I had to at least <i>try</i> it. After all, I have complete faith in their brand. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The reason for that faith is because Sheer Glow in Barcelona is to this day my 'Holy Grail' foundation. The coverage is perfect and the shade range was spot on. It has peachy undertones which neutralised the hyperpigmentation I had, thus giving me mannequin-smooth perfect looking skin. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, I digress! Back to NARS Tinted Moisturiser in St Moriz. Would it follow in the footsteps of its big sister, Sheer Glow? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8295" height="424" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5338/9509861569_4a3c9d6ecb_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I was a bit stuck for which shade to actually choose, both Annapurna and St. Moriz both looked quite close to my skin tone. I eventually plumped for St. Moriz, even though Annapurna reminded me of Nepal, as Annapurna was just a little too dark for my liking even if it did have those lush peachy undertones.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last winter I was colour matched at the NARS counter in Selfridges to St. Moriz, and for once I actually came away feeling that it actually <i>was</i> the right colour. I've had a few bad experiences at these counters in the past, walking away looking either like a ghost (too light) or an Oompa Loompa (too orange!). The Sales assistance totally understood why I had my reservations at being matched in store and was actually pretty good.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking at the website I presumed St Moriz would have been more suited to those who use the Stromboli shade of foundation. With that in mind the SA assured me, as the colour is quite sheer, it would be forgiving in the Summer when my skin darkens quite a bit. Just for reference I'm usually anywhere between MAC's NC37 and NC40, but in the summer I can go up to NC42.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wore the St. Moriz a couple of times in the winter, when I was a true NC37 however I just wasn't feeling it. In winter I crave full coverage foundation with tons of highligher on to get into the festive spirit. So I put it back in the drawer of unwanted, unused products to gather dust and be forgotton about. And then summer hit... </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When the sun is shining I like my skin to look natural and glowy, so I'm nowhere near as concerned about full coverage as I am in the gloom of winter. With this summer being particularly sunny and warm, this product seemed like a completely different proposition. It seemed to give me everything I need.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8297" height="467" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7424/9512648462_218c42aa48_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's what NARS have to say about it:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"Your skin – almost bare, but better. This advanced, oil-free formula provides a translucent veil of color and sun protection while helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in just four weeks. Infused with lush, naturally derived botanicals and ingredients to immediately helps thirsty skin feel hydrated. Kopara from French Polynesia and mineral rich seawater revive and re-mineralize skin for a softer, smoother, and brighter natural glow. Skin is transported."</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8304" height="411" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3674/9509855721_955c022121_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">TONE, CONSISTENCY & APPLICATION</span></b><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking at the photo above, St Moriz looks slightly cooler than Barcelona which would be a bit problematic if it was a foundation and would leave me looking ghost-like. But because this is a tinted moisturiser it's much more sheer and is actually quite forgiving. Once I've blended it on to my skin using the ELF Studio Powder Brush, you can see just how sheer it really is and didn't leave me looking ashy at all. Also the consistency isn't quite as thick as a standard foundation, so it feels incredibly lightweight. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">NARS suggest applying this over a moisturiser and as my skin is oily/combination but is also dehydrated, applying a moisturiser is a must for me anyway. When I followed their guidance though I found it to be a bit too dewy, so I tried it without the moisturiser and my skin appeared so luminous!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The tinted moisturiser contains SPF30 in it which is a real plus point. For me though I feel this probably won't be sufficient enough to protect my skin from UV rays as I've noticed the tinted mousturiser starts to fade away during the day. A little powder does help a bit, but to stop my skin looking like a slick of sweat I now use Murad's Oil Free Sunblock with SPF30 from Lookfantastic:</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.lookfantastic.com/murad-oil-free-sunblock-spf30-50ml/10375533.html?rcs=gci&gclid=CJmd28XWhLkCFcLHtAodp00Azw&affil=thggpsad&utm_campaign=gp_skincare&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=googleprod#customer-reviews" target="_blank">LINK</a></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">With this sunscreen, my skin has the right amount of dewy-ness for my taste and the product blends seamlessly into my skin. At random points during the day I'll then apply NARS Powder Foundation in Barcelona to blot out any excess oil</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">FORMULATION, FINISH AND LONGEVITY</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As my skin is relatively clear at the moment, I find I that don't need to use too much of this just now. I dot it over the skin then blend it in like a mofo. Saying that, you have to be a little careful as this not buildable at all. As it contains moisturiser within it, it can make your skin appear a bit too shiny. I'd suggest applying concealer to any areas that need covering. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Having said that, it's definitely enough to blur out any imperfections on your skin, but it won't completely mask them like a foundation or concealer would. That's ok though because this isn't really the point of a tinted moisturiser anyway. I think that this product is perfect for me, given that my skin is pretty clear at the moment. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As mentioned earlier I do have hyperpigmentation in certain areas, so if on occasion these areas require special attention I apply a tiny amount of L'Oreal's Nude Magique CC Cream in Anti Fatigue. On normal days though I don't bother, as my skin looks pretty good with just the tinted moisturiser. The end result is that when I'm wearing St. Moriz, my skin looks and feels as smooth as a baby's bottom! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As for longevity though, the product seems to start wearing off throughout the day to the point that by around 6pm it looks like it's completely gone. What's worse is that with my oily/combination skin it just looks like I've covered my face in oil - not a great look in a restaurant! My tip here is to touch it up with a little powder throughout the day. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">CAM WHORING:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7585" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3800/9512656794_5ec9d7dff1_c.jpg" width="466" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">During the day with NARS Powder Foundation on top to set it into place...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_8410" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7370/9509853315_601d1b2eeb_c.jpg" width="438" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And by night, the skin looks quite dewy. It almost looks like I have highlighter on! It's a beauty, isn't it? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now, observing the picture above, I have a serious case of Flash Back Photo Face. I'm putting it down to the SPF30 within the Tinted Moisturiser which is one of the downsides to this. If you are going out expecting to be photographed, I'd avoid this and opt for a foundation such as NARS Sheer Glow or Bobbi Brown's Natural Finish Foundation, any foundation with little or no SPF will do you nicely. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now to sum up:</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> PROS</span></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Lightweight coverage, perfect for Summer where you don't require heavy foundation on the skin</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The shade is quite sheer so it's not a problem if you're in between shades</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blurs out imperfections, skin looks fresh and appears soft</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Skin appears quite natural looking and gives you that artificial glow as if your skin is happy :) </span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Can be applied and blended with fingers or a brush</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Skin glows, you could even skip highlighter </span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">By the end of the day, skin appears dewy (with the help of powdering during the day for those oily/combination types)</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If you're looking for an every day foundation but want something lighter, this was made for you! </span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Contains SPF30 (If like me, you're into that!) </span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> CONS</span></b></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Priced at £28, some could argue that it's pricy for a tinted moisturiser when you could get a similar effect by mixing a blob of foundation with moisturiser</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's a tinted moisturiser so it won't completely cover up imperfections</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Without powdering (for oily/combination skin types), this will completely disappear off your face</span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Again for those of you with oily/combination skin, skin can look too dewy without a matte moisturiser/sunscreen on underneath </span></li><li style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The SPF 30 will give you that dreaded white cast look with flash photography</span></li></ul></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>WOULD I REPURCHASE? </b></span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think I would, but only to use in the summer and for that reason I'd probably go for the slightly darker Annapurna shade. I definitely won't be using this in Winter as I like my face to appear supremely flawless.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> And there you have it! Well done to yous that made it to the end, quite a mammoth post this time but I hope you enjoyed it! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you tried the NARS Tinted Moisturiser? </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-74878737030632037932013-08-11T09:29:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.874-08:00The Idiot's Beginner's Guide to Mehndi<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="beginnersmehndi2" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/9487587202_e8ee33bf97_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love Mehndi. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That might not sound quite so odd being that I'm Indian, but as a youngster I absolutely hated the stuff. I think that was probably down to the fact that nobody in the family could do it properly at the time, so I used to end up with two big brown circles on my hands. They were meant to be the Sun. Oh and also the scent that used to linger once the mehndi had developed into it's rich brown shade.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's all changed now though, I can't get enough of the stuff. No longer can I detect that lingering smell, not sure what kind of mehndi my family used but the stuff I get is practically odourless. Although I kind of like the idea of tattoos, I'm incredibly fickle so would <i>never</i> get one done as I know that as I grow older I will undoubtedly ask myself 'Why?', particularly as wrinkles begin to take hold of the designs! So mehndi is the next best thing.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I'm no artiste, and even though I have steady hands when it comes to applying eyeliner, when it comes to mehndi it's a completely different story. I'm hopeless! But where there's a will there's a way, and I've found a workaround that almost makes me look like a pro with the mehndi cone!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So if, like me, you're not so hot with a cone in hand, you'll love this little cheat I recently re-discovered: </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="beginnershenna3" height="483" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3762/9484795897_0f659c697c_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="beginnersmehndi3" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7358/9484786925_6dd6fd0629_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">SECRET WEAPON</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mehndi stencils! Sweet, sweet nostalgia. I purchased mine off eBay on the cheap. I recall seeing these everywhere when I was younger. They come in the form of stickers which can be stuck onto your hands, feet or pretty much any part of your body! Once you've done that, you just fill in the gaps with your Mehndi cone. Sounds simple, right? </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">WRONG! The hands are far, far too small (unless you're 5 years old!) and the feet are even worse! So as usual I found myself having to adapt them a little to work for me. I just seperated the digits from the main part of the hand and stuck them on individually. Also, from the stickers it's pretty clear what areas of the body they are actually intended for but I found that they can be easily used elsewhere.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In the photos above, I've used the sections intended for the ankles on my wrists and you can see that it doesn't look out of place! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Once I've filled in the gaps I let the mehndi dry to the touch. The next step is to apply a lemon juice and sugar mixture to the dried mehndi and wrap around the area in cling film, with the stencil still in place. I'd then leave this on overnight whilst I sleep and unwrap it in the morning. I tend to find that the combination of the lemon juice/sugar mixture and leaving the mehndi on overnight results in incredibly dark mehndi!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I <i>always</i> apply mehndi at night just before bed as I find that the longer it's left on for, the better. The lemon juice and sugar makes the dried-up mehndi stick to the skin much better, the cling film also seals the area restricting break-off during the night.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="mehndi" height="446" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7433/9484782835_027f08bee8_c.jpg" width="640" /></span> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I <i>have</i> to mention the Mehndi cone that I use. I've no idea who makes it or what it's called as it's all written in Hindi. All I know is that back in India it costs 10 Rupees per cone, and that it's pretty darn good! Over here in Manchester, I buy two for £1 from Anand Fashions on Wilmslow Road. I'm there every week hauling on their jewellery and bindis!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I find that one can never have enough bindis, they only really last for a day and because they're so small they always seem to disappear. Also, they're so pretty that I've actually had a girl physically hit me on her birthday, <i>ordering</i> me to give one to their friend! What is this? High school? Anyway enough about the deluded peeg, if you live in Manchester or are just passing through I highly recommend you check out Anand Fashions.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="beginnersmehndi" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7343/9487589866_7e0b3b1c87_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="beginnershenna" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5504/9484798039_696a137427_c.jpg" width="450" /> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So there you have it! The Mehndi was a lot darker however I took the photos a couple of days later and it's still looking good! </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Next up I will be attempting to use the stencils all over my hands. How do you girls apply your mehdni, any hints and tips? </span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-79766068978457404832013-08-09T15:24:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:18.948-08:00EID OOTD: The Meeting of Two Cultures<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hi hi hi!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hasn't Ramadhan just flown by this year? I guess we say that every year though, time marches on endlessly and if you look away for just a fleeting moment, you'll find days or weeks have passed without you realising. Perhaps the delerium of working in a non-AC building in 30C temperatures without food or water for 18 hours each day played its part, but at times I felt like I was that car in the music video for Snow Patrol's 'Open Your Eyes' - drifting around at high speed in a bit of a daze! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Still, I was sad to see Ramadhan end. Those of you who aren't Muslim might wonder why on earth we'd be sad to see it end, but to find out the answer to that question all you have to do is spend a day fasting with a Muslim family and you'll see why - the atmosphere is just so special. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Last year pretty much all Muslims celebrated Eid, or the end of Ramadhan, on the same day. This might not seem like a big deal but believe me it rarely happens. This year there was a bit of a split, as Saudi declared they had sighted the new moon, when all the science indicated it was most likely only possible to see it in South America. Other countries, like Oman and Pakistan didn't sight it until the next night so we were split a little. Either way, Eid had arrived! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Usually in the UK we find out about the end of Ramadhan a few hours ahead of time, so this usually prompts every Muslim in Britain to go out and do some last minute Eid shopping - at the same time. Groceries for the big meal, sweets for desserts, toilet paper for the aftermath, presents for relatives that announced a last-minute visit, guys getting their trademark 'no back and sides' at the barbers, renting out fast cars, girls getting in some last minute eyebrow threading or facials or even a new outfit... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This year though, I made the (slighly) controversial decision to <i>not</i> buy a new outfit. Ok, be honest. How many of you just spat out your coffee in shock? Seriously though, I own way too many clothes and I'd been thinking this Ramadhan how we all go out shopping for a brand new Eid outfit every single year. I didn't want another disposable Indian outfit that would only ever be left to gather dust afterwards.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So this year I paired <a href="http://www.fashionicide.com/2012/08/outfit-eid-ul-fitr-meets-project-mermaid.html" target="_blank">last year's Eid Ul-Fitr top</a> from my Sari (known as a Choli) and paired it with my new favourite laced dip hem skirt from Forever21. Beneath the Choli, I wore a lace sleeved top all wrapped up with a gold studded belt. I think the outfit sums me up pretty well actually - bright, fun and a mixture of Eastern and Western influences. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That's quite important for me actually, as I often get asked what ethnicity I am or 'Where are you <i>from</i>?' I guess if you're not from a minority background you may not understand exactly how frustrating that can be sometimes, it's almost as if it's a qualifying question that will determine the nature of any future interactions whether that be with Asian or White people. Me? I'm Indian, but 'home' is Britain and being both Indian and British can be a challenge. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I love both Western and Eastern clothing. I love my skirts, vests and dresses but I also love my Saris, Bindis, Mehndi and even the occasional Kameez but often we stick to just one or the other, why can't we have both? Yesterday, I had my cake and ate it (in more ways than one!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_9087" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5461/9474953942_358eeee288_c.jpg" width="384" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9119" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7346/9474948188_95527b3fd0_c.jpg" width="395" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9084" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5448/9472169153_780e4691d8_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9109" height="461" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3781/9472163613_18a92c673f_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9134" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2882/9474944754_4b72492af3_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_9073" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3749/9472171901_63b020252e_c.jpg" width="401" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Turquoise and Blue Silver Embellished Choli - Karol Bagh Market, New Delhi</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Blacked Lace Dip Hem Skirt - Forever21</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">3/4 Sleeved Black Lace Top - Topshop</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Gold Medallion Hand Harness - Topshop</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I bought the Hand-Harness last year and every time I look at it, I think how it looks like it's a chunk from a Belly Dancer's belt, ha! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As for the outfit, I was a little surprised at just how well these two cultures fused together. I've definitely found a new use for the rest of my Cholis. Whatever this path I'm on is, It's totally new. And I like it.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until next time..</span></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-29067368151688292422013-08-05T11:47:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:19.025-08:00OOTD - DROP DEAD Heart Club Cardigan<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">DROP DEAD</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Ok, so not the conventional way to start a post but what I'm referring to is the brand Drop Dead, I'm not telling you to drop dead! And you know, I've been really liking their outerwear lately. The colours and the prints have drawn me in.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My first purchase from these guys was a Unicorn Jumper in the most gorgeous pastelly lilac colour I featured in a post not too long ago. Ever since that purchase, I've been checking out their website often to ensure I don't miss out on anything new and unique. A couple of weeks back I spotted this cardigan so perfect, I almost dropped my laptop.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The cardigan in question is an incredibly soft, baby blue number which is ridiculously oversized. I do like that though, it's like nothing I own. At the back there's a massive white heart-shaped skull, I guess that's Drop Dead's logo. Either way, I LAV IT! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I don't know if you agree, but finding baby blue, lilac or any other pastelly coloured clothing on the high street (of good quality at least) is pretty rare, I can't help but question WHY??! My only thoughts on that is pastel colours can associated with the young. Who knows, but I think these colours are so gorgeous they could work on almost anyone. I mean, why on earth are we being hounded by fluorescent colours at the minute? Give me a baby blue or a lilac over a garish yellow or a neon green any day of the week!</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today's outfit is incredibly casual, as I've been feeling a bit under the weather lately. Whenever there are sudden changes in the weather I start to feel pretty ill. Yes, my immune system is lame and No, I don't know why I live in Manchester sometimes either.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_7519" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7356/9437578751_e7c88e6a60_c.jpg" width="400" /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7544" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3703/9437567055_c4d758909a_c.jpg" width="424" /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7525" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5325/9437575763_cd09801024_c.jpg" width="393" /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7542" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5450/9437570169_520e456b81_c.jpg" width="424" /></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7528" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3713/9437573141_ede46fdebb_c.jpg" width="424" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Baby Blue Hearts Club Cardigan - <b>DROP DEAD Clothing </b><a href="http://www.iheartdropdead.com/product.php/6993/dead_hearts_club_cardigan#.Uf_er21nCYg" target="_blank">LINK</a></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Black Jersey Midi Dress - <b>TOPSHOP</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lilac Lace Crop Top - <b>H&M</b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spiked Silver Statement Necklace - <b>Primark</b></span> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All of the items featured are from this season, the Primark necklace set me back just £8! I could not believe that 1) It cost just £8 and 2) It was in Primark?! Honestly though they are doing really well in the Jewellery department, I purchased a pack of 8 midi rings for £1.50! I went back in the following week to get more but they were all sold out. *Sad Face*. Topshop have been pretty stale of late, although I've noticed they've introduced a new jewellery range which is both unoriginal and <b><i>way </i></b>overpriced. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back to DROP DEAD, I've currently got my eye on the <a href="http://www.iheartdropdead.com/product.php/8373/death_bed_jumper#.Uf_x121nCYg" target="_blank">Death Bed Jumper</a>. It's Gold, it's metallic and has a huge coffin print at the back, ahh! WANT! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And there you have it! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's Eid soon (THANK GOD). Ramadhan has been cruel this year. The constant heat and sunshine did not help at all. Typically though the Eid forecast is for rain, and no doubt August will be a complete wash-out too! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It's ok though: "When the rain falls they talk of Manchester, but when the triumphant rain falls we think of Rainbows. It's the Mancunian way." <i>Lemn Sissay.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-36701533265668056942013-08-01T13:53:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:19.106-08:00Fake Bake Bronzer Compact + Kabuki Brush = FACE CONTOURING!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="facecontouring" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5496/9411766382_c3e91b7918_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hello hello! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've been such a slacker lately! I've been neglecting the blog a little as Ramadhan has really taken its toll this month, but believe me I have <i>so</i> much to talk about! The problem is, after a hard days work in this unusually sizzling hot Summer, I've been getting home around 5ish and heading straight for bed! In fact, I've been struggling to keep my eyes open on the way <b><i>in</i></b> to work too!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyways, over the past couple of months I've had a fair few peeps ask me about how I contour and what products I use? Up until recently I was using Sleek's Contour Kit, however Fake Bake sent me their <span style="font-size: small;"><b>Bronzy Babe Bronzer Compact</b></span> and <b>Bronzing Powder Brush</b> and they've really impressed me. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="FakeBakeBronzer" height="457" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/9408857693_303885da08_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="KabukiBrush" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7294/9411617050_03c0a1096c_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The <b>Bronzing Powder Brush</b> is essentially a Kabuki brush. Now I <b><i>love</i></b> my Body Shop Kabuki which is just ridiculously soft! However, the big issue for me is that it isn't really convenient or hygenic to carry around with me in my bag. Fake Bake provide a cap with theirs, so once you're done with it, you can cover up the brush and pop it in your handbag!</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">If like me, you constantly find your Kabuki liberating itself from your make up bag and having little adventures all over your handbag, you need to get yourself one of these! And yes, the zipper on my make up bag is bust. It's one of those things that I always say: 'Yeah, I'll buy a new one tomorrow' but then never do. I think it's been broken for a couple of years now...</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="FakeBakeBronzer3" height="437" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3703/9408849523_bd0d47cc26_c.jpg" width="640" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So, after that little confession, on to the bronzer! The casing is leopard print on top and contains a mirror inside. I've never liked leopard-print, there's something very <i>Kat Slater</i> and tacky about it so that immediately put me on the back foot with it. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span> <br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But, as the old saying goes, you should never judge a book by its cover - no matter how garish that cover may be. I don't know about you, but I find it so disheartening to hear folk we come across in our daily lives judging others based on appearance. There's so much more to people than the way they look! Well anyway, I wasn't about to judge this poor little thing on it's cover, I wouldn't want to hurt its feelings!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/9411620114_d8fb2c20bf_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="FakeBakeBronzer2" border="0" height="444" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5327/9411620114_d8fb2c20bf_c.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Upon opening the compact I was quite surprised by the shade of it, it's pretty dark! Also there's a subtle gold shimmer running through it, but upon swatching it was barely noticeable. Using the Kabuki, I buffed this under my cheekbones - the colour is intense! It's extremely pigmented and actually looked like I'd gone overboard! Looking at the description:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">"<i>Bronzy Babe bronzing powder has triple pigmentation which means that, you need use less, it looks fresh and stays put for longer and in a generous sized compact with mirror, it will last for ages</i>"</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Figures! </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I now use this with a light hand and buff it in to the MAX and get something that looks a little something like this:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="FaceContour" height="640" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5520/9409003855_5c563b661f_c.jpg" width="419" /> </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="HowToContureFace" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7407/9411763614_b5b31aff79_c.jpg" width="424" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> As you can see, after all the buffing, it still looks pretty apparent I've applied a bit too much. With that being said, using this with Illamasqua's Blush Up Brush, it's perfect! With the Illamasqua brush, I find I have more control over the pick up of the product and the shape of the brush fits perfectly under my cheekbones. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm no expert in contouring, but I'm sure I'll get there eventually. I don't get all that much practice as I find that under my cheekbones it's quite hollow anyway, but a light dusting with the right brush really defines them- we're onto a winner! What with all the heat just now, I'm using the Kabuki for some desperately needed daytime powdering!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I couldn't find the Bronzer on the Fake Bake website, but I have managed to find it on the Hair Trade website for £15.99 </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.hairtrade.com/fake-bake-bronzy-babe-powder-compact-039oz-p-1794.html?gclid=COrywuv13LgCFcbLtAodqw0APQ" target="_blank">LINK</a></span>. The Kabuki can be found on the Fake Bake website and will set you back £9.99 </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.fakebake.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d109_makeup.html" target="_blank">LINK</a></span>. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Would I purchase the bronzer when it runs out? I think I'm on the fence about that, it's really long lasting which is a huge plus, but it <i>is </i>£15.99 and the Sleek Face Contour Kit costs just £6.49. I guess it comes down to whether you want longevity, and how much you're prepared to pay for it. If £15.99 is no big deal for you, bag it!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Have you used Fake Bake? What did you think? Any tips for a budding contourer like myself?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-26021027805295736932013-07-26T05:04:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:19.180-08:00Super Affordable Lilac Round Sunglasses! <div style="text-align: center;"><img alt="DSC_7485" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7402/9364943159_909b3f0764_c.jpg" width="640" /> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm really loving round sunglasses at the moment, their retro edge is perfect for mixing up my outfits and adding something extra. I bought my first pair a couple of months back from Topshop, they're huge and black and I've featured them in a previous post somewhere!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But I still wasn't quite fully satisfied, I needed something a little different. Distant memories of wearing lilac tinted shades as a youngster popped in to my head,<i> </i>I was obsessed with them! The thing is though, nobody really sells them. Well, not for grown-ups anyway :(</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Until, that is, I searched eBay. Oh eBay, my trusty eBay. Is there anything you can't do? Well I found some round, lilac-tinted shades on there for just £2.69 including shipping. Yes, Two Pounds and Sixty Nine Pence. Just call me Lima, Queen of the eBay. There was a teeny little catch though, they were actually intended for some kind of fancy dress costume. But so what? I wasn't going to let that stop me from rocking these when the sun comes out to play! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_7414" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2870/9364946205_b3cc1f9b7d_c.jpg" width="424" /></span> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_7022" height="424" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/9367735762_47fae0945d_c.jpg" width="640" /></span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_7018" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3700/9367738882_711a8e57ec_c.jpg" width="424" /></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> If you quite like the look of round sunglasses but don't fancy spending too mach cash, these babies would be right up your street! I bought mine <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1970s-1960s-Sunglasses-Round-Glasses-Fancy-Dress-Hippie-Hippy-Lennon-Beatles-/140963336113?pt=Adult_Fancy_Dress_UK&var=440118788426&hash=item20d211cfb1" target="_blank">HERE</a></span>.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I'm also liking the look of the blue ones too... Hmm, looks like my sunglasses collection is about to expand again ;)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So tell me, what's been your eyewear of choice this summer?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2609646151800433528.post-76514118648108203802013-07-24T15:11:00.000-07:002013-11-24T22:14:19.255-08:00OUTFITS: Summery Silk Kimono and... Yep: Another Dip Hem!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hi Hi Hi! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> This post comes with a slight health warning up-front. If you're sick of the sight of me sporting dip hems, hi-low dresses and skirts, I suggest you look away now! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> ...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Okay, so thanks for not looking away yet! This will probably be my last post on these... Okay I lie, I bought another one from Forever21 a week ago that I'm <i>dying </i>to show you, but that's it! Unsurprisingly the Hi Low dress in this post is also from Forever21. They have really got it going on right now, every week they have exciting new stuff in abundance, their stock rotation must be crazy high!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I picked up this pretty standard black dress with buttons running down the front and gold-tipped collar that give the illusion of a blouse. The gold tips really made this stand out for me, I mean it's pretty enough as it is but those tips had a hissy fit in the store demanding that I buy this dress. I much prefer the cut of the collar on this to those 'Peter Pan' collars that have been doing the rounds for years. Why won't they just grow up and fly away?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Anyway, I paired my freshly-bought dress with this beautiful blue silk kimono. For some reason this baby has never made it on to the blog before, which is almost criminal on my part as I actually purchased it just before going away to <a href="http://www.fashionicide.com/2011/08/travel-dubai-in-pictures.html" target="_blank">Dubai in 2011</a>. It's been a staple in my wardrobe ever since, I find that draping myself in black brings my mood down a little so throwing this on over the top gives dark outfits a burst of life and colour. Most importantly, it makes me feel like <i><b>*ME*</b></i> again! :) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><img alt="DSC_7455" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7443/9361548644_da1b888ca9_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7360" height="640" src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2886/9361573138_289f90bd89_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7435" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3689/9358777419_d128f9c97d_c.jpg" width="447" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7452" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3712/9361552326_5c9b57567f_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7382" height="640" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7422/9358791353_a097781cfe_c.jpg" width="407" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7432" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3711/9361561298_68a5c5c199_c.jpg" width="452" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="DSC_7425" height="424" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7404/9361565042_733c63fc8c_c.jpg" width="640" /> <img alt="DSC_7359" height="640" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3809/9361577754_7255d7b0b3_c.jpg" width="424" /> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gold Tipped Collar High Lo Dress - Forever21 (this season)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blue Silk Floral Kimono - Miss Selfridge (OLD)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gold Studded Skinny Belt - Gift</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Black Wraparound Diamante Bracelet - Forever21 (this season)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gold Leopard Headed Bracelet - Forever21 (this season)</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gold Emerald Necklace - Personal Palace (<a href="http://instagram.com/personalpalace#" target="_blank">LINK</a>)</span> </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The emerald looking necklace you see in the photos was purchased from Instagram of all places. I came across a boutique on there called Personal Palace and managed to bag this for under £15. It's pretty sleek looking and has been absolutely dazzling in all the recent sun we've had. It dazzles so much, the light bouncing off of it has driven my kittens up the wall - literally!</span> <br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For those of you fasting, I hope it's going well for you so far! My headaches haven't quite subsided yet, it must be the body craving its caffeine fix. *shakes like a junkie* </span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <img alt="Halima" height="76" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8097/8403660212_3d1d5baeb9_m.jpg" width="170" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="https://twitter.com/Fashionicide" target="_blank">Twitter</a> | <a href="http://instagram.com/fashionicide" target="_blank">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fashionicide/434841343253108" target="_blank">Facebook</a> |</span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/en/blog/4661829" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">| </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://fashionicide.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">Tumblr</a> </span></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0