Winter and Christmas!!

Hey, sorry I've not posted anything in a really long time; been really busy with work and stuff... 

Anyways, winter is here! I want to just do a super quick blog for this season, and to remind you how important it is to protect yourself from the harsh coldness around us. When I say protect I mean in terms of healthy hair and skin etc.

One way to protect yourself is to use a really good conditioner for your hair. Conditioner is really important as it softens and smooths out your hair. It is particularly important in the winter with all the cold wind against your hair, which effectively dries it out and makes hair more brittle and weak. At the moment, I use a mix between Aussie and Treseme. When I have a shower, I usually shampoo my hair twice, and then condition it afterwards and clip it up for a while, so that the conditioner is on my hair for a sufficient amount of time, and then at the end, I wash it out. I also use Johnson's leave-in conditioner and Aussies leave-in conditioner spray from time to time. If you don't have these or have temporarily run out, what you could so is rub a bit of normal conditioner in my hand until it gets kind of white and stickyish, and rub that into damp hair. I also recommend using minimum heat, so try air-drying your hair more.

Another way to protect yourself is by moisturising your skin. Like your hair, the cold elements dry out your skin, making it rough and scratchy. I recommend using Aveeno Moisturising Creamy Oil. It uses sweet almond oil, which is known for its moisturising properties. It's very much like oil, in the sense that it moisturiser and softens skin cells, however, it's a cream, and so it doesn't have that wet, shiny, greasy texture that you get with oil as dries on your skin faster, but still leaves it feeling smooth. You can get it for £4.76 from Boots.

Also, don't forget to moisturise your face! At the moment I'm using Lancomes' Hydro Zen Neurocalm cream, along with the Hydra Zen Nuit, but Bobbi Brown, No7 and Olay are really good alternatives.

And of course, a way to protect yourself from the inside is to boast your bodies immune system by taking supplements which help prevent getting the dreaded common cold. Just go to your GP for advice on which to get.


Now, for a little Christmas touch

Here's a few make-up hot list items and ideas for last minute Christmas gifts:
Bobbi Brown Shimmer brick £30.50
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat £24.50
Dior Miss Dior Chérie £44 - £85
Dior Backstage makeup brushes - brush kit £75
Urban Decay 24/7 Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner £14

Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV £36.80

And now, here's a few beauty trends from this season to try for Christmas dinners or parties:
Vamped-Up lips- YSL, Chanel and Dior would be great options for this look. Don't forget to minimilise the rest of your face!
Big False Lashes- Benefit's they're Real is a great gift for this or, for a fab drug store buy, Max factor's false lash effect is still a winner for this as well as Maybelline's
Kohl Liner- just under the waterline and smudge for that sexy 60's look and add a strong line above the eye too.
Muted Metallics- Metallics took our summer by storm and they're presence still has not left us. Try soft metallic eyeshadows with some shimmer in them and try some of those sultry pewter tones or icy blues and violets. Don't forget you can translate some of these colours onto your nails too!
Bold and Defined Brows- Always a strong statement look to wear. I asked for Benefit's Browzings for Christmas, so I can't wait to try out this look- I love the sophisticated boyish look it presents and the whole androgynous aspect.

And a few of fashion trends of the season to help you with your outfits:

Sequins - A cute LBD with large sequins and a pair of tights with killer heals is a rocking trend to try

Red and Green- What's Christmas without these seasonal colours?? If you're having a casual dinner, try some coloured jeans in either forest green or a red or burgundy colour

Jumpers - Again, perfect for those casual dinners. Look out for ones with cute patterns like aztec prints, or fun animals like reindeer.

White- try dressing in white from head to toe with may be a ballerina bun or a messy bun, you'll definitely stand out. 

Dynamic B&W- If dressing in one colour is too much for your taste, try dressing in bold black and white outfits.

Faux Fur Coat - for when you arrive to your party or dinner.

That's all for now, sorry it's really late and kind of rushed, I'll be better after my exams! 

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

Britain and Ireland's Next Top Model Live

Hey everyone, how was your Halloween? 

Anyways, last Friday I went to BINTM Live event at the Excel Centre. I thought it might be nice to just give you a brief outline of the day and how it went. :)

First of all, I bought a VIP ticket, which allowed me to skip the main queue to get in within a minute and VIP access into signing areas with the judges and the models from the show, as well as a few other celebrities. A VIP ticket also gets you a massive VIP goodie bag which had the show guide, a couple of magazines, some eyeshadow, lip gloss, shampoo, conditioner, hand cream, body lotion, cereal, 2 toothpaste, tissues, a chocolate bar and some, err... ladies essentials... A few random items, but useful none the less. Along with all of this, included with the VIP ticket is a ticket to one of the catwalk shows. I had tickets to the 6-7pm catwalk, which was filled with energy, great designs and was a very lively show.

So anyways, the day is so great for getting some serious shopping done and getting awesome bargains- my boyfriend bought the new Billionaire cologne, endorsed by Bruno Mars, which isn't released until Christmas and is worth £40. He got it for £20, and received a goodie bag with 5 other fragrances for both men and women, worth over £150. Is that a bargain or what? He also got a really great Police watch, so it's not just a girls day out, there's stuff for the boys too.

However, getting back to the ladies, there's plenty of clothes stalls and accessories to buy from a wide range of boutiques. I managed to get a top and a skirt from 'Oh My Love' (http://ohmylove.co.uk/ - they sell some stuff in Topshop and on Asos too) for £15 when together, they're worth over £50! There's also many pampering areas, such as the Rimmel makeover area and the Treseme hair styling. And you get given loads of free stuff like facial stuff and hair care products, as well as health drinks and CHOCOLATE!

I really do think it's worth going to BINTM Live at least once. If you look out for it, there may be some magazines giving away discount codes for tickets to keep your eye open next year!

Here's a link to the website if you want to see more details about this years show http://www.bntmlive.com/ 

Last minute dress-up ideas

Halloween is arising!! For those of you who may not have decided on a costume yet, here are a few simple ideas.

A Gypsy - This is a super easy costume; all you need is a long skirt, bangles and a beaded necklace! You can add some anklets or hair accessories too.

A Cat - Just wear solid-colored clothing, in a reasonable "cat colour" (given the occasion, black would be best). You can make a collar out of paper or a strip of fabric and do the same for ears, attaching them to a headband. The tail can also be made from another strip of fabric. You can use face paint or make up to draw on a cat nose and some whiskers.

A Football Player - If you or someone in your house plays football, give the uniform an extra use on Halloween. Or, you can just put on your favourite football teams' shirt! If you're keen and have the the whole kit, throw it on! The great think about this is you can adapt it to any other sports team; e.g. an American Football Player

A Farmer - Due to check shirts, or flannel shirts being eased into the fashion world over the last few years, it should be easy for you to find one for the look. Add on a pair of jeans, or dungarees and a hat and you're sorted. You can even carry a shovel or pitchfork from the garden...

A Witch - super simple; a black dress, a tint of green to your foundation, a hat and a broom stick. If you have a black cat, you could take it around with you as an accessory...

A Skeleton - This one is fun; just wear black clothing and attach bones cut from paper plates to your body.

A Hippie - Take inspiration from the bohemian trend going around. Try a tie-dyed shirt or a long, flowery flowing dress as a base for the costume. Add some beads and paint peace signs on your face with make-up or face paint. You could wear bell bottoms if you happen to have them from one of the times when they were fashionable.

A Mad scientist - Simply wear a lab coat from science class, wear it over a nerdish outfit. Use hairspray to make your hair stand on end and carry around a plain glass with a colored-water "potion" in it.

A Bat - Wear a black outfit and make wings out of a black umbrella. If that's too much effort or there's not enough time, you can cut out some wings from felt and stick it on

Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation

Heyy! Here's a quick review on the Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation.

What do you think of when you see the name 'Chanel'? Expensive? High quality products? Over-rated? Worth the splurge? Well, I don't want to impose an opinion on you, but here's a quick background to my foundation search.

Now I spent about an hour or so in John Lewis last month trying on various foundations, as my regular foundation (Bourjois), as odd as this sounds, has gone crazy. Seriously, when I try to pump out the foundation, it doesn't always come out... But anyways, I really needed foundation, especially because for some reason, I have a one or two random blemishes, most likely due to the summer heat (which is pretty much gone now... but hey, this week's meant to be quite warm...). So I went around Bobbi Brown, Yves Saint Laurent, Lancome and more, although I had tried on the Pro Lumiere before about a month prior to this foundation search. 

In the end, I was torn between the Laura Mercier oil free foundation and the Chanel Pro Lumiere. Both had a lovely coverage and were £33 each. I had half my face in Laura Mercier, and the other half in Chanel! The make up assistent at Chanel admitted that the Laura Mercier was a good match for my complextion, but she also pointed out the difference is that the Laura Mercier is much more matte , where as the Pro Lumiere is a semi-matte foundation, meaning that it adds a lovely glow to your face, which looks fabulous when the light hits your face. Although I was looking for a matte foundation, I realised that I usually set my foundation with powder, making more matte. 

For the final decision, I had to rely on my boyfriend to make the final decision. He initially wanted me to choose the Laura Mercier, as he felt I wanted the Chanel foundation just because it's 'Chanel' (which is not true- I don't get head over heals for labels!). However, in the end, he admitted that the Chanel foundation just beat the Laura Mercier by a nudge, due to the way the light is reflected off your face.


So coverage-wise, it's very radiance-emitting, but doesn't look shiny as it's semi-matte, which makes your face look flawless and airbrushed, yet natural. It's also very light and smooth on your skin and also doesn't crease. I find that the best way to apply it is by a sponge or a beauty blender, which are very inexpensive, however you can experiment with using a brush too and see which you prefer.


Quantity wise, as I bought it recently about a month ago, I can't say how long it will last, however I can say that one-two pumps is enough for your whole face. You can apply it heavier or a second coat on blemishes to add extra coverage and double it up as concealer.

If you have oily skin, it may be best to try the Mat Lumiere.

But to sum up, I really do think that this is value for money as it's also packaged in classy bottle with 30ml of foundation and it smells nice :) I really do feel it is long lasting, as I can go the whole day without touching my make up when I wear it, and it has good consistency; it's not too thick but not watery; it's perfect!

Secret Trend Alert!! : Autumnal Brights

Autumn is all about the neutral tones and all the Earthy vibes- I don't need to tell you that. However, I'm sure you've noticed the major colour block trend this summer, you know, all the bright reds, oranges and pinks. Summer is sadly over. However, it's fashion doesn't have to end there. Summer may have ended, but the fashion we have being wearing for the last few months can be carried with us into Autumn too.


'How?', you ask? Well the best way is to invest in a coloured jacket.




If you wear a bold dress, the key to the look is to keep accessories to a minimal. Black tights are pretty useful to wear against the harsh London weather at the moment...
If you're not quite dareing enough for colour blocking without the sun, try bold coloured statement jewellery. Or, bring in one bright coloured clothing and wear it with traditional autumnal colours, that way, you're keeping the boldness subtle.

Don't forget all those summer shoes you've bought can be used in the winter too! Remember; High heels never go out!!

The best thing is that colour blocking outfits can brighten up your mood too. I'm sure you all know that yellow is a therapeutic colour to bring joy, like the sun.


Also, check out this video on how to bring in summer style into the fall: http://www.youtube.com/user/chrisellelim#p/a/u/1/gJT5aODFGHE




If you wanna know about the general trends coming along, here's a little bit of help.

More trends of the season include mixing up textures, such as ruffles, faux fur, lace, plastic, leather, sequins and wool. Jumpers are a MUST. Don't go for the plain black or white jumpers, try out those gorgeous yellows and reds, or aztec or navaho style knitwear.
The 'Decade Fashion' is also taking a parade in Autumn 2011. Think 70s, or even 40s, 50s and 60s! Bold Jewellery and plenty of colour! Snake skin and animal prints also take a stage this season.






PS. Sorry the pictures are getting out of the frame, I wanted to make it big enough for you to see the text!

Happy Birthday Mr. Jackson

Being the birthday of the King of Pop, I want to use this day to celebrate his birthday. I want to reminisce my memories of him (not that I knew him, I wish I did ...just got the memory of his concert). I first saw him when I was three and a half years old. You'd expect this mere child to forget such an event, however, I haven't. This is a true measure of how affecting he was; that a tiny, little infant remembers his two and a half hour concert for over ten years. It's actually my very first memory.

It's funny, I actually though my memories of the concert was actually a dream. I remember where we sat and specific effects, the dances and songs from the show, as well as being upset that my sister and my brother ditched me and left me with my mother so that they could get up closer to him (seeing as I was still in a push chair, I kind of understand...), however his music quickly settled me. Anyways, I remembered all of this, but I was never actually told that I actually went to this concert, and as my sister took all the photos from the day for her own photo collection, there was no evidence of it for me to see. It only occurred to me a few years ago. I think it was only around March 2009 when my sister was telling me she wanted to take me to the This Is It Concert. This cued my mum to find our passes to the HIStory concert in 1997. She stuck it on the fridge, as it was laminated, and so it wouldn't get damaged. 

I tend to just walk over to the kitchen and rummage the fridge when I'm bored, so it wasn't long before I made my way to the fridge after my mum displayed the pass on the door. I saw it, and stood in front of it for a few minutes and began to think. The year and the concert corresponded to how old I was in my "dream" and the songs I remembered (being a hardcore MJ fan, I knew what songs he performed in each tour and the different legs :P). I stood there, thinking about it all for a while, and my heart stopped when I thought that I actually could have been to an actual Michael Jackson concert. 

I ran over to my mum, who was casually watching television and I asked her, "Did I go to the Michael Jackson concert in 1997?"
"Yeah", she said casually. She said it so matter-of-fact, as if I was supposed to know, I was just in shock. I began describing various bits of my dream, to check they were the real memories, and my mum assured me they were correct. She was stunned that I actually remembered. It was one of the greatest and uplifting moments of my life. That I had actually been to the King of Pop, Rock and Soul's concert and I remember it as the very first memory of my life- it's such an honour! :)

Anyways, Happy 53rd Birthday, Michael.

1 Pair of Boots, 9 Different Outfits

Reusing favourite fashion items is something we all do. Here's a rough guide of how to wear a simple pair of boots in nine different ways without looking like you're repeating whole outfits.

I've also reused other items, such as vests, blazers and jeans etc. to embody the whole recycling theme.

1. Double Denim

Jacket - Next 

Top - H&M
Shorts- Marks and Spencer

I had a blue halter-neck top from Oasis for this too, but there's an issue with the pictures :( ... Sorry!

 2. The Tailored Shorts Outfit

Top- Next
Shorts- Next

 3. The Smart Summer Outfit

Blazer- Asos
Top- Mango from Asos
Shorts- River Island from Asos

 4. The MJ Inspired Outfit

Shirt- Brother's wardrobe :P
Vest- H&M
Jeans- Topshop
Lace Glove- Asos 

5. The Blue Outfit 

(This is the ring that's sadly barely seen :( )

Top- Asos 

Jeans- Topshop

Ring- Asos 

Sunglasses - Marks and Spencer

Initially, this was just meant to be the blue top with the jeans, but I added the blazer as it seemed to embody the season's colour blocking theme. Orange and blue may be opposing colours, however, with simple pieces such as a top and blazer, the two colours work well together.

6. The Grey Socks Outfit

Top- Continental
Cardigan- Therapy
Shorts- Marks and Spencer
Socks- Primark

7. The Blue Skirt Outfit

Top- Asos
Skirt- Asos

 This one's really just a skirt version of #5 ... 

8. The Ripped Jeans Outfit 

Top - Mango from Asos

Cardigan - Marks and Spencer
Jeans - Topshop

9. The Smart Work Outfit

Top - H&M

Blazer - Asos

Jeans - Topshop

Bag - Lord knows!!

And finally, the wonderful boots themselves, Marks and Spencer. (And the most comfortable socks in the world - Ralph Lauren)

 See Ya!! xxx

Rouge Coco- Rouge Noir

Okay, you know a couple of weeks ago, I did a make-up list of the key things, and in the lipstick colours for brown lipstick section, I wrote that one tiny sentence about how "Chanel does beautiful browns"? Well I am SORRY for that ridiculous understatement Chanel! 

Last week, I got my first Chanel make-up, well I did have a Chanel pencil sharpener... Anyways, I got the Rouge Coco lipstick in Rouge Noir and I LOVE IT!!! It's quite dark, so it may not suit all skin tones, but the Ballet Russie is a nice alternative for those of you with paler skin tones, but who still want the lip drama! It's a hydrating lipstick too, so it's very soft on your lips with a creamy texture and it is also glossy, but not too glossy. I just love the satin finish it leaves on your lips. It's very pigmented so it has quite a strong, bold colour that is long lasting. 

DEFINITELY worth getting!!
Next stop- Chanel Foundation!
I tried their liquid and power foundation on when before I went to meet my boyfriend's sister, and it was so incredible. I loved the texture, and it lasted the whole evening; rubbed off around my mouth after dinner, but that's natural, and even so, very little rubbed off so I'm quite excited for it. 

Joanne Rowling

Today, Joanne "Jo" Rowling (J. K. Rowling) will be celebrating her forty-sixth birthday as well as the success of the final Harry Potter film, which is well worth watching if you haven't already. The British author began writing the stories of the infamous Harry Potter in the early 90s in a cafe in Edinburgh with baby Jessica, her daughter, sleeping in a pushchair. The idea of the series was born an a train journey to London. Her financial struggles of the time did not allow her to foresee the fame and recognition she has received from her fantasy stories, which have sold over 400,000,000 copies. The first book, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, was first printed in 1997, with only 1,000 copies and was translated to screen in 2001 (a whole DECADE ago!), with a young Daniel Radcliffe bringing her protagonist to life.

FUN FACT: Although her name is simple Joanne Rowling, publishers feared that her target audience, young boys, would not want to read a book written by a woman. Subsequently, publishers demanded Rowling use two initials as opposed to her name, adding anonymity to her gender. However, a dilemma appeared, as Rowling had no second name. She choose to use the letter "K", after her grandmother, Kathleen Rowling.

Rowling's "rags to riches" wealth and fortune has allowed the author to become a notable philanthropist who has supported and raised money for many issues including issues which have affected her personal life, such as single parenthood, making her a symbol for social justice and an inspiring mentor. Personally, I didn't enjoy the Harry Potter series as much as the majority, however, I admire Rowling for what she has achieved, given her circumstances , as well as her campaigns for the charities in which she has helped. For this reason, I dedicate this post to her and her achievements.

"I think you have a moral responsibility when you've been given far more than you need, to do wise things with it and give intelligently." - J. K. Rowling

Make-Up Essentials

Hey-Hey everyone! Sorry I haven't posted anything for ages, just been really busy in life... Anyways, here's a quick little list of a few beauty essentials for the ladies. I've just done a little list here, splitting it all into specific products and general necessities, and then below is a more detailed list, with a little review and/or how to use 'em, so hope it helps and ENJOY! x
PS Sorry if I missed anything out... I tried!


Specific Essentials:
1 YSL Touché Éclat
2 Benefit Hello Flawless
3 Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette
4 Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara
5 Benefit Hoola
6  Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist

7 YSL Rouge Volupté
8 Benefit Benetint
9 Lancome Hypnôse Mascara
10 Benefit Moonbeam

General necessities:
1 Primer
2 Foundation or Tinted Moisturiser
3 Concealer 

4 Lipstick - Nude
                - Red 

                - Pink

                - Brown 

5 Blush 

6 Pencil Eyeliner

7 Liquid or Gel Eyeliner 

8 Mascara and Eyelash Curler 

9 Eyeshadow and primer


Specific Essentials (Detailed List): 

1. YSL Touché Éclat - Okay this is A.M.A.Z.I.N.G.!! A wonderful highlighter and concealer with just a few clicks! The vast range of shades allows it to suit anybody. It's so easy to use; just dab a bit on to your skin and blend it out with your finger. It also doubles up as a lip primer before applying lipstick, and I love products that multi task!

2. Benefit Hello Flawless - This beautiful powder really does give you a flawless finish. In addition, it's SPF 15 so it protects you from the harmful summer sun rays! It's the only powder I've seen with SPF, so think that's a major plus point. I personally love using it because it gives a light finish and sets any liquid foundation beautifully. It also very usefully comes with both a brush and a sponge, so you can sweep the brush to set your make-up, or you can use the powder to tackle any blemishes or spots. Brilliant!

3. Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette - I LOVE this palette! It comes with 12 beautiful colours and it's all in nice neutral tones, perfect for any smokey eyes! (which adds to the tragedy of how I sadly cannot afford it- WAAAHHHH )'; )

4. Max factor False Lash Effect Mascara - This my favourite mascara; I've literelly been using it for years, whenever it gets close finishing, I RUN to Brent Cross and buy another one, ready for when I need it... Okay, I don't literally "run" per se, but you get the picture! You can layer it on to increase the false lash effect. What I really love about this is that it literally does everything that I need; it curls, lengthens and volumises my ridiculously short and straight Asian lashes. AND it's TOTALLY inexpensive and lasts long! It's an overall WIN-WINN!

5. Benefit Hoola - OHHH HOW INCREDIBLE! I LOVE this bronzer so much and for SO many reasons. First of all, you may think that it's just a little box, but it really does last forever, and a little bit of it really does go a long way. Secondly, I love that it's a non-shimmery bronzer. It's so easy to use as it comes with it's own brush. There are a couple of ways to use bronzer; for defining your cheekbones, you can simply suck in your cheeks and apply it accordingly to the hollows made. For hiding doubly chins, simply dab a bit under your chin, defining your jaw-line. You can also apply a bit to your temples and to the sides of your nose to give it a different shape.

6. Benefit Ultra Radiance Facial Re-Hydrating Mist - You can tell I had a little shopping spree with benefit! Now this isn't really an essential item, but it really is an awesome product from their skin care line. You just spray it on your face 8 inches away a couple of times and it just refreshes you and gives you a nice cool mist whilst also setting your make up for the whole day. I love it!

7. YSL Rouge Volupté - Another item (and the last item on my essential make-up list) which I do not possess, however I shall be getting many of them very soon. I have recently tried it out in the shops, and I love how moisturising it is for your lips. The colours are also very vibrant. AND it's SPF 15! I'm really loving the Provocative Pink, Rose Culte and Extreme Coral.Also, the actual lipstick looks so sick.

8. Benefit Benetint - This is awesome, I've been secretly using my mum's for years! It gives wonderful and light tint which you can use on your cheeks and your lips. I like it MUCH better than their Posie Tint, which is nice and cute, however I prefer this natural look. 

8. Lancome Hypnôse Mascara - Okay, so honestly, I don't actually own this either, but It's on my list, and it should be on yours! It instantly adds length, shape and volume to any eyes.
TOP TIP: When using mascara, dip the wand in the tube only once, do not re-dip, or your definitely inviting mascara clumps to your eyes, as well as pumping air into the tube, thus drying out your mascara and limiting it's lifetime.

9. Benefit Moonbeam- Wow, Benefit's on a roll here! Anyways, this is a gorgeous highlighter, and works superbly on those with yellow undertones. It seems to work best on those with tan skin, however, if this is not you, do not fret, for a lovely alternative would be their highbeam, which works best on those with fairer skin tones, or even Yves Saint Laurent's Touché Éclat, which suits all.

General necessities (Detailed List): 

1. Primer - I use Loreal's Studio Secrets as its soft and creamy as well as not pricey!

2. Foundation or Tinted Moisturiser - For summer, I've been really into the light coverage, and so I've been using various tinted moiturisers, however the one I'm liking the best is Bobbi Brown's Tinted Moisturiser, which suits my skin tone perfectly, giving my face a lovely even skin tone. It's also SPF 15! When you use these tinted moisturisers, I would recommend not using any powder over it, as it takes away the fresh, clean summer look. Laura Mercia's Tinted moisturiser is also in my good book.

3. Concealer - I really don't need to tell you that this is a must, unless you either like having dark circles under your eyes or you're one of those unfairly lucky creatures who have perfect skin... Anyways, As I have said above, the YSL  Touché Éclat is a brilliant concealer as well as highlighter. It's meant to be just a highlighter, however it does actually work well as a concealer before your foundation too.

4. Lipstick - Every woman's need! Here are the main essential tones
                 - Nude - I really Like Laura Mercia for nude lip colours. 

                 - Red - Nars' Jungle red lipstick is brilliant as it stays on forever and is lovely and bold! 

                 - Pink - I'm really liking YSL Rouge Volupté for the moisture and vibrancy in their lipstick.  Mac's Lady Gaga range also produced some gorgeous shades.

                 - Brown - Again, YSL have my vote. However, I've been using an Elizabeth Arden brown lipstick which also looks beautiful and is very nourishing to the lips. Chanel also do beautiful browns.

5. Blush - Bobby Brown Blush is my summer go to blush this year. It gives a nice light pink feel and gives (me) a natural look. I also really like those blushes with multiple shades in one because you get a variety of blush colours, but it’s very subtle as it all gets blended so you don't look like a clown. The blush in the picture is from a Rimmel London palette in 002 Rebel Chic. You can also use the Benetint I recommended :) 

 6. Pencil Eyeliner - HOW can you live without a black pencil eyeliner? I like using Max Factors' Kohl eyeliner to add to a smokey eye effect, as it looks sultry when applied to your eyelid and then lightly smudged. I also like using Rimmel London Eyeliner as it's very bold and strong which adds to an intense look. Both of these are from "drug store brands" and so they are totally inexpensive, but work perfectly. White eyeliner is also a necessity as it can really bring out the whites of your eyes and make them seem less tired as well as making them seem bigger. I like Topshops' Kohl Liner which is very long lasting; although the clothes are seriously overprice, their make range is surprisingly cheap, but still really good quality! 

7. Liquid or Gel Eyeliner - I use a range of liquid eyeliners, from Mac's Hello Kitty to Urban Decay to Miss Sporty, all of which have different effects, and so it's really up you you what kind of look you want and what works best for you, as there are so many liquid eyeliners with many different types of brushes and thicknesses etc. I currently do not own any Gel Eyeliners, however I am looking to invest in some very soon. Physicians Formula have sets of three gel eyeliners specific to eye colours and is available for about £7 from the US, or £26 from Amazon.... talk about the price difference! But I am really keen on Bobbi Brown's gel eyeliner as the intensity of it seems to last throughout the whole day.

8. Mascara and Eyelash Curler - If you have long, curly and thick lashes, you are sure to be the focus of envy! A curler and mascara are key in achieving full lashes with volume, length, shape and curl. I highly recommend Max Factor False Lash Effect. And for curlers, any working curler will do.

9. Eyeshadow and primer- At the moment, I really love Bobbi Brown's cream eyeshadow because it really does last all day and you only need a little bit of it for a vibrant colour. You can also use it as primer so you can kill two birds with one stone! Urban Decay's primer potion is however a really wonderful primer. It really does make your eyeshadow stay on all day long. I'm also really into this Urban Decay's palette, which has a lovely variety of 9 gorgeous glittery colours. Unfortunately I don't know what it's called, but here's a picture: Inika Mineral Eyeshadow is also incredible. I actually got mine in last months’ issue of Marie Claire, but I'm SO thankful for getting it because it truly is amazing. If you moisten a cotton bud and use that to apply the eyeshadow, it comes out so bold and strong and it really does stay on for ages.