Fat Frocks: make up

Cheeks and Lips Palette

NARS Laser Cut Eyes, Cheeks and Lips Palette

By Gem - 12:42:00

9 Comments

beauty

New Store - Superdrug Beauty Studio Cardiff

By Gem - 10:48:00

10 Comments

make up

Skincare & Make Up favourites - Origins, Garnier & Lancôme

By Gem - 10:54:00

I can be a little boring when it comes to skin care and I stick to the same thing. I have been using Bioderma Sensibio H20, Estee Lauder Double Wear and Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream for a couple of years now and I wanted to try out a few new things. I did a big Boots shop online with all my saved up advantage point and some online vouchers and went a little wild.

This is what I bought and have been using for over a month:

This is a picture of Origins, Garnier & Lancôme skincare.

Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins - £34

This is a photo of Origins high potency Night-A-Mins

This product smells good enough to eat! It's got a gorgeous orange scent and goes on easily and doesn't feel heavy on your skin. It provides great hydration and definitely banishes skin dullness leaving you looking and feeling refreshed. I have a lot of dry patches on my face and this really helps those areas appear more hydrated.

The minerals and vitamins that can be found in Night-A-Mins include Salicylic Acid (to help remove away surface dead skin cells), Fennel Seed (to tighten skin), Vitamin C (to fight free radicals), Vitamin H (to promote overall skin health), Calcium (to seal in moisture and defend skin against future dehydration), and Magnesium (to soothe dry skin). The relaxing aromas apparently lull you to sleep too.

I love this product and even though it's a little pricy I would buy it again. I know that this often comes in gift sets which retail for £40 with two other full size products so I will be stocking up at Christmas when they are available.

Lancôme's Teint Idole Ultra 24H - £28.50

This is a picture of Lancôme's Teint Idole Ultra 24H

I've been a Double Wear fan for years because I like a heavy foundation to cover my acne scars. I can never get quite the right match and I always end up wasting lots of product because it doesn't come with a pump. I wanted to try something with a less heavy look for the daytime and was recommended this product by a couple of bloggers on twitter.

Lancôme's Teint Idole Ultra 24H offers long-wear and comfort and I love that I don't need to use concealer and can just build this up over my acne scar areas. It gives me a even complexion, and a smooth shine-free finish. It's very bendable and there are 18 shades so there's no orange jaw lines going on anymore. I find it so hard to get the perfect colour match but I've found it in this product.

Although expensive, its lasts longer than double wear because of the pump. I can just release a small amount and not have loads spilling out. I apply with my fingers then dab area which need more coverage with a bit more product. This foundation doesn't settle in any fine lines and unlike Double Wear which can look heavy this just makes you look like you have a slightly dewy (but not shiny) ans smooth skin. I will definitely be re-purchasing this.

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water - £4.99

I'm sure you've all heard of micellar waters by now - Bioderma kicked off the trend and the whole beauty world went mad for it. Its basically a water solution that breaks down makeup. Micellar waters are very gentle yet just as effective as traditional make up removers. I use this at night to get most of my make up of before using a cleanser.
Garnier's Micellar Cleansing comes in a 400ml bottle which is only 100ml less than a bottle of Bioderma but is much cheaper at only £4.99. This stuff works exceptionally well. I've been soaking a cotton pad with it and swiping it across my face - mainly concentrating on my eye area to remove any stubborn eyeliner and mascara. It melts my makeup away very quickly without a lot of rubbing and it doesn't have much of a fragrance which I like. There's not a great deal more I can say about this as its quite a simple product that's great to use as pre-cleanse (or when you're feeling a bit lazy, great for festivals) and it does exactly what it says on the tin. Verdict, the same as Bioderma but cheaper.

Can you recommend any skin care produts for dry skin or reducing the appearance of scars? I'm always looking to try something new.

10 Comments

make up

Cheap and simple tips to lift your look

By Gem - 16:17:00

I've spoken about how I'm trying to save for a house in a previous post and now I'm really trying to make an effort to save money which means buying less clothes. Buying less clothes doesn't mean that I have to look dull or not sport latest trends it means I need to dig a little deeper into my wardrobe and be inventive.

You don’t necessarily need to splash the cash to be more stylish. A few simple additions and some creative accessorising may be all it takes to lift the look of your favourite, well worn outfit. Update an old faithful and rediscover the contents of your wardrobe with the following thrifty tips. (or not, you're welcome to ignore me)

Accessorise from top to toe

Accessories can easily update a tired outfit. From a stylish hat to the perfect pair of shoes, you can really lift your look instantly with a well-chosen accessory.

From a casual beanie to a wide brimmed fedora, if the cap fits, wear it. Fashionable hats can set you apart in the style stakes. For a chic take on the accessory, team a stylish fedora with a classic and casual outfit, such as jeans, flats and a jacket or your favourite smock and biker jacket. Alternatively, channel a more casual style with a slouchy beanie and warm winter knits. Relatively inexpensive, a new hat and other chic accessories will make perfect style sense to money savers and bloggers alike. It's just a shame that I have a giant head and only beanie hats fit me, sob.

Why not consider a bright pair of shoes like in the photo above to add the finishing touch to your outfit? Pack a style punch with a statement pair of shoes in a bold colour or unusual print to really make an outfit pop.

Make more of your make-up

Why not update your existing look by experimenting with new make-up styles? A simple style tweak, such as an alternative shade of lipstick or flick of liquid liner, can help to lift a tired look and refresh an outfit choice. Experiment with make-up and outfit combinations to make bold style statements. I matched my blouse with an old lip marker I found in my make up box to create a more eye catching look for work.

Learn make-up tricks and tips online at SuperSavvyMe. Make the most of handy make-up hints from a panel of experienced beauty experts and be inspired by style and beauty ideas. Why not use the interactive Supersavvyme seasonal planner? From family life to health and well-being, enjoy helpful articles and advice and ensure you schedule some ‘me time’ to try out your newfound make-up techniques. I've also posted a hair tutorial which you might like to try as a quick and easy way of updating your look.

Accessorise in style

From bags to belts and bangles to hair bands, there are countless ways to accessorise an outfit. You can create a laid-back look or go all-out in the glamour stakes. I teamed this outfit with a gold necklace and bag to make it a little less ordinary.

Whatever your preferred style, well-chosen accessories will complement your clothing choice and update your look with a price to suit every pocket. Do you try and rework an outfit to save money? Any tips for me?

*collaborative post

2 Comments

buffy

May the odds ever be in your favour

By Gem - 13:10:00

16 Comments

allegra boots

You Love Us

By Gem - 20:28:00

32 Comments

60s

Pan Am Glam

By Gem - 22:28:00

17 Comments

escentuals

South Wales Blogger Meet Up Giveaway

By Gem - 12:15:00

20 Comments

Books

Won't let the city destroy our love

By Gem - 20:32:00

15 Comments

blush

Topshop Make Up

By Gem - 15:01:00

24 Comments

Accessorize

By Gem - 20:41:00

I'm jumping on the bandwagon and doing a 'What's inside my bag' post.

I got this bag as a present for Christmas from my mam, it was from style 369 and was a steal in the sale for just £12. This bag is HUGE and it's always full when I go to work with magazines to read on the bus and my packed lunch but I took this photo before I went shopping on my day off so it's a little less full than usual.

I always have my Young Persons Rail Card in my bag, I live in the middle of nowhere so I have to get a train to civilization everyday and this card saves me a 1/3 on my ticket.

I have a headhog brush which I've had for aaages, I wash it with shampoo and remove hairs once a week and apparently it's the same one that the Queen uses.

My umbrella is from Primark and I thought it was very Cath Kidston-esque and it was only about £3.

My purse is from Accessorize and I picked it up in the sale, it's the prefect size for a few cards and coins.

I love my 20gb ipod, I use it a bit like an external hard drive too so it's got all sorts on there but mainly Morrissey, Mystery Jets and Maccabees songs.

The diary is from Cath Kidston and was a gift from my brother, I couldn't function without my diary I'm so forgetful! My shifts change all the time so I can keep track of them with my little diary. My keyring is also from Cath Kidston, noticing a theme yet? :)

My make up bag is a cheap Primark buy, it's just like the Cath Kidston oil cloth ones but only cost me £1.50. Here's what's inside...

I use Lancome Art Liner liquid liner, hypnose mascara and their eyeliner. They all have great staying power and are well worth the money.

I love my Chanel powder, I got it free with all my Boots points which is great because I would never pay £30 for powder.

I use mac concealer because it's so creamy and blends in well and I got the lipstick free when I took in old packaging to be recycled, I think that's a great scheme and more make up brands should do it. It's a very boring nude colour but I like it because it looks quite 60s.

The YSL foundation was a bit of an impulse buy but it the best make up item I've ever bought. It comes with a built in brush and it's called Perfect Touch.

The Lipstick and eye primer are both Urban Decay. The lipstick is another boring shade, just a light pink. The primer is great and really helps my make up stay on all day in work. I've had it for over a year and there is still plenty left.

I left out all the receipts and bus tickets that were in my bag because that's not very interesting unless you want to know that I bought orange juice 3 weeks ago ;) What do you have in your bag? Do you carry everything around with you like me or do you only carry the essentials?

17 Comments