Hair Extensions, Shopping and Stuff

I promised you guys that I would post pics etc when I received my hair extensions from FoxyLocksExtensions and I received them this morning! I am so happy with them! The colour is pretty damn close to my hair so they blend in well (I chose no.22, the Honey Blonde colour).  I think I will still take them to my hairdresser though because I want to add some lowlights so it matches exactly (so shoot me...I'm a perfectionist!ha ha).  The hair looks and feels great and I was impressed by how sturdy the clips were.  I quickly put them in so I could take some pics of what they look like initially.  I must admit that I didn't feel the need to put all the pieces in (there were 10 in all and I only put in 8).  I wanted to post an initial pic so you could compare when I get the extensions treated at the hairdressers and also trimmed to blend in with my own hair.  I reckon I'm going to lop off about 1-2 inches because the extensions in their current state sit below my bustline! (although it's difficult to see how much the hair will bounce up when it has been curled/waved).  Anyhoo, I am very happy with the product I received and I can see why people like them so much.  They add so much volume to my hair, although I did feel a bit like a mermaid/Rapunzel when I put them in.  I couldn't wear my hair/extensions straight in this manner because I feel that hair past a certain length can begin to look tacky.  That's just my personal opinion!  So once I have taken a trip to my hairdresser to tweak the extensions a bit, I will post some more pics!

I was out last night for a friend's 30th birthday meal at an Italian Restaurant called Little Italy.  It's a very relaxed place where you even get to dance on the tables at the end of the night to some cheesy Euro pop! Although I resisted this time since I was wearing a short dress...so I took it upon myself to just take pics!  Anyways, since it was a relaxed evening, I just went for a really neutral look (I know, boring!) and used my conical wand to style my hair.  I was at the hairdresser's yesterday too so I'm alot happier now my dark roots have been covered up!  Here's what I used:

Face: Revlon Photoready Foundation in Golden Beige, Estee Lauder Maximum Cover in Medium as a concealer, Mac MSF Natural in Medium, Benefit Powderflage under eyes, Dior Bronze Matte Sunshine Bronzer in Honey Matte, RMK Blush in Holographic Soft Coral, Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond.

Eyes: Mac Painterly Paint Pot, Mac Ricepaper all over lid and browbone, Mac Vanilla pigment in inner corners, Mac Retrospeck on lid, Mac Mulch in outer corner and crease, Mac Fluidline in Dipdown on top lashline, Benefit Eye Bright on waterline, Rouge Bunny Rouge Amplitude Mascara in Black Obsidian, Clarins eyebrow pencil in Soft Blonde.

Lips: Clarins Joli Rouge in Pink Blossom.

I was having lunch with the girls today and since I was a bit early, I decided to have a look in Accessorize (a.k.a. My dream treasure trove of beautiful things!).  I was just browsing and then I spotted the cutest little delicate bracelet with the word 'Love' on it (exactly like the keyring that's given to Carrie in the SATC movie!...they also have the keyring too if you like that).  I wouldn't normally buy gold coloured jewellery but this was so delicate that it actually suited me.  It hangs loosley on my wrist which I prefer.

THEN I spotted a gorgeous little gold necklace with a diamante heart with an arrow through it....so pretty! So I had to have that too!  Ok, so I thought my shopping habit had been satisfied but and after lunch with my lovely friends, I decided to do a leeeeeetle bit more (window but not really) shopping.  I convinced myself I better start looking for clothes for my honeymoon to Kuala Lumpur, Borneo and Hong Kong.  So here's what I got out of H & M...

A lovely little retro 50's style baby blue pinstripe dress...it reminds me of the kind of thing you see Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe wearing in those black and white pics! This dress was only £14.99!

Next I spotted a rail of dresses that were new in but they were £2.99 each! I couldnt believe it so I got the turquoise one and the black one.  They will be perfect with some sandals when we are chilling out near the beach.

I remember Holly over at The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog did a video including a polka dot scarf she got from H&M and I loved the look of it so I picked one up too (I'm such a copy cat!).  This one was only £7.99 I think.  I love pairing scarfs with outfits though, it can really finish your look off nicely.  I also wanted to get some over-sized Aviator shadesso these ones that were only £4.99 did the job nicely! I don't like buying expensive sunglasses because I think I would cry if I sat on them or they got broken somehow!

So my good intentions went out the window! But I'm really happy with everything I got because they were all fantastic bargains!

Have you started buying your holiday clothes yet?

Wedding Hair Update

You know I did my posts about how I was going to have my hair up for the wedding?...well, I kinda, sorta changed my mind!  I originally wanted my hair up because:

a) The ladies in the bridal store kept saying how I just HAD to have my hair up if I was wearing a strapless dress.  It would apparently 'elongate my neck and make me look more graceful'.
b) Every bride I saw had her hair up so I just kind of fell into the thinking that I should do that too.

My doubts began when I went to visit the photographer a while ago.  He said "I hope you don't mind me asking, but how are you wearing your hair for the wedding?"...I of course replied "oh I'm having it wavy but up in a loose chignon".  He paused for a while and then said "This is just my opinion, please don't be offended, but I think you would suit your hair better wavy/curly and down because it would suit your face shape better and also suit the relaxed feeling of the wedding".  I sat there and I will admit that I was a bit taken aback that he was so honest about it but then he continued..."Do you wear your hair up alot?" to which I thought, well no I don't because I prefer it down and I feel more comfortable with it down.  Then it dawned on me...why the hell am I wearing my hair up just because other people expect me to? I need to do what I am happy with and I am happiest with my hair down.

SO, the decision has now been made (thanks to my wedding photographer).  I am alot happier now I know I will have long flowing locks on my wedding day.  I want to look like me (but maybe a bit better than normal!ha ha).  I have now set out on a quest to find the best real hair clip in extensions to add more volume to my hair.  Don't worry, I'm not after ridiculously long locks, I am going to cut the extensions so they blend with my hair (this is more about volume, not length).  I do want to add just a couple of inches to my hair length so that when it is curled and it bounces up, it will still be a decent length.

So ladies, any recommendations for really good hair extensions would be appreciated! In the meantime, I did have a look at the extensions available on a fellow bloggers, Imogen's, website www.foxylocksextensions.com/.  I ordered the delux real hair clip-in extensions in Honey Blonde (160grams) and I thought they were pretty cheap at £72.00.  The colour I chose looks like this (pic courtesy of foxylocksextensions.com):

I like that the extensions aren't one solid colour, they have highlights through them just like my hair.  I will let you all know how I get on with them once they are delivered.   I will be taking them to my hairdresser to be cut (and possibly dyed to match my hair colour exactly) and blended into my own hair to make sure it all looks as natural as possible.  I think half the battle is trying to get a good colour match so I'm hoping the Honey Blonde ones do the job.

I actually really like the FoxyLocksExtensions website because it includes a guide to clipping in the extensions with Pics, Video Tutorials, Customer Reviews, Order Tracking and a Celebrity Hairstyles section where it shows you a step-by-step guide to achieve a particular look.  Imogen does a really good video on how she clips in her extensions, now it may seem simple to do, but I've never done it before so it helps to get it right.


How gorgeous is Imogen!
Have you tried any real hair extensions? What did you think of them?

Products I Have Been Loving Lately

Bronze Goddess Eau Fraiche - This perfume encapsulates a sunny beach holiday in a glass bottle...don't get me started on the bottle! The gold glitter embellished bottle is so pretty...it appeals to my magpie side!  This is a warm perfume with notes of Bergamont, Mandarin, Tahitian Gardenia Petals, Coconut, Amber, Sandlewood and Vetiver.  I love this perfume once it has settled into my skin and I can imagine that it would smell amazing as the sun heats up your skin on a beach.  It smells sun drenched if that makes sense? If you like the smell of coconut, you will like this! It's not overpowering, just a really beautiful lingering scent of summer.  It smells beautiful.

Frederic Fekkai Shea Butter Moisturising Shampoo & Conditioner - Because I highlight my hair, I really have to ensure that I use hydrating products so that it doesn't dry out and become frizzy.  This shampoo and conditioner combination has been keeping my hair in great condition.  I have to alternate my shampoos and conditioner quote alot so at the moment I use this alternately with Pantene's Volume S & C.  If I don't alternate them then my hair kinda gets too used to the products and they don't work as well.  I think alot of people experience this.  The FF Shea Butter Shampoo and Conditioner smells great and leaves my hair really soft and manageable without making it static.  I didn't like the Frederic Fekkai Volumising S & C but this stuff is fantastic.

Dior Bronze Matte Sunshine in no.2 (Honey Matte) - This is my HG daytime bronzer...it's AMAZING!  Because it's matte, this gives me the most natural honeyed golden skin possible.  It's smooth to apply, never ever streaks, it's long lasting and you get alot of product for your money.  The bronze/amber packaging is luxe looking as you would expect of Dior.  I will be repurchasing this forever because it's a staple and I use it ever single day.  I can't recommend this highly enough, it may be pricey but it's soooo worth it.  I don't know what I did without this bronzer.  It's perfect for girls with fair/fair to medium complexions.  LOVE it!!!!

Lancome Hydra Zen Neurocalm Moisturising Cream Fluid - I always switch to lighter day moisturisers in the summer because I don't like having heavy products on my face when the heat goes up (yes that DOES happen in Scotland sometimes!ha ha).  A little of this moisturiser goes a long way, it's more of a milk formula so it spreads!  I like the protective barrier element of this moisturiser because I live in a city so there's bound to be alot of pollution.  This product feels very soothing on the skin and it makes my face feel soft and really fresh, which is what you want in the summer.  It's suitable for sensitive skins so it doesn't irritate my skin in any way.

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm in no.2 - This luxuriously packaged lip balm smells amazing...like strawberries! Delish! It looks like a lipstick but it's actually a transparent pale pink lip balm that's really soothing and hydrating.  I love taking this out of my bag and applying it because it has all the luxury of a lipstick with the silver packaging.  Obviously there is next to no colour payoff as it's meant to just be a very light tint.  My lips get very dry so I always like to have lip balm products with me when I'm on the go.  I hate dipping my fingers into pots when all the product collects under my nails so I prefer this kind of lipstick idea.

Clarins Joli Rouge no.730 (Pink Blossom) - What a great nude lipstick! It's so moisturising that it never makes your lips look dry or cracked (alot of nude lipsticks create that effect!).  The colour is a pink based nude and it's so super flattering, I would imagine it would be great for most complexions. The formula is slightly glossy so you get that 'my lips but better' effect which I love for the daytime when I don't want to look too done up.  The packaging feels expensive and I love the Clarins logo embossed onto the lipstick (which obviously will disappear quickly judging by the amount I am using this product!).  If you love a nude lip, you'll love this too.

What are your favourite products at the moment?

My Favourite Blushes

Hi ladies! I woke up to a beautiful day today so I'm in a very good mood! I wanted to keep my 'Favourites' posts going by letting you guys in on my favourite blushes.  I always love reading other peoples favourites and it gives me a chance to see other products that might work for me.  I only started wearing blush about a year ago.  I never felt that I needed it before because I have naturally rosy cheeks that show slightly through my foundation.  Often people have asked "what blush are you wearing, it's really nice?" and I was always too embarassed to tell them that I wasn't wearing any.  My cheeks just happen to be that way, you may think that's a good thing but on the other hand, it means I can never go without foundation.  Because of this, I like to wear soft blushes that are subtle but the kind that bring your face to life and give you a kind of natural radiance.  All these blushes do that for me.

Jemma Kidd Makeup School Blushwear Cheek Colour in Paw Paw: I have two back ups of this product and when I realised how long they last, I decided to put one of my back ups for sale on my blog.  Unfortunately no one bought it though! Tali over at The Gloss Goss also did a rave review on this product that can be read here.  I generally don't like cream blushes because they tend to slide off my face or feel greasy.  However this perfectly peach coloured creme blush is light as a feather on your skin and it has a unique formula that almost feels like a fine powder when you blend it into your cheeks...Love this!

Mac Gingerly Blush - I was initially going to use this as a contour colour and whilst it really does work well that way, but I have been enjoying using it as a blush too.  It's a capri bronze shade that is great for enhancing a tan.  The formula doesn't contain any shimmer so it's perfect if you prefer the soft matte look.

Mac Well Dressed - This blush is a must have in my opinion, I use it every day and it's the kind of product that you could apply without a mirror...it's that full proof! It's a cool soft candy pink shade that is so natural and flattering and I never get tired of how it looks.  Everyone raves about this blush on here and there's a reason for that.  Nuff said!

Bare Minerals Blush in Fruit Cocktail - This blush scared the bejesus out of me when I first saw it because it looks like a hot pink in the container.  I looked at it and though "hell no!" but then when you swatch it, you quickly realise that it's a gorgeous sheer formula blush that is so pretty once applied.  It has a really nice sheen to it so it imparts a lovely radiance to your face.  I find this blush really brightening and it's perfect for the summer months.  It looks amazing against a tan!

Korres Blush in Peach - I love, love, love this blush.  It's basically a slightly more intense version of Benefit's Coralista so whilst you can't be too heavy handed with it, it creates a gorgeous peachy sheen on your cheeks.  I like to wear it when I have a tan because I feel that's when the colour looks best.  It's buttery smooth, contains a pretty sheen and you get loads of product for your money.

RMK Blush in Holographic Soft Coral - Yes there's a theme developing here...I do love peach and coral blushes though! This is the softest coral blush I own and the easiest to wear.   I think it's universally flattering so girls with paler skin could easily rock this blush.  This is a seriously pretty colour but the only down side would be the small pan...I feel like you should get more for your money.

Benefit Coralista - This is probably my ultimate blush at the moment for when I'm going out.  I heard everyone raving about it for months and finally caved in and got it.  It's expensive I guess but I think it's so worth it.  It's such a beautiful colour and it looks amazing once applied.  I'm not a huge fan of cardboard packaging but I actually don't mind this one because I like the graphics on this one.  Mine never really get tatty because I don't carry my blushes around with me.  Good blushes shouldn't wear off during the day anyway.  This blush is brightening, radiance enhancing gorgeousness.

Nars Deepthroat (what is it with Nars and dirty filthy product names???)- Like many other bloggers, I don't rate Orgasm blush because there was something about the tone that just didn't suit me and the glitter particles in it were just SLIGHTLY annoying! Deepthroat however is a truer peach shade that has subtle shimmer (no gritty glitter particles though!).  I find I have to be light handed with this blush because it would be easy to totally overdo it.  It creates a lovely glow on my cheeks though and it remains my favourite Nars blush.

What are your favourite blushes? Do you have any on your wishlist? 

Good Times/Bad Times

GOOD TIMES

1) Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation - This stuff is just brilliant in my opinion, I have been using this for every night out and special occasion in my calender.  It may not be everyone's cup of tea because it is a medium to full coverage foundation but there IS no better foundation for when I want a flawless look on a night out.  It stays put like no other foundation, no matter the environment, this product will keep your face looking perfect.  The pic below demonstrates it's amazing staying power because I applied the foundation at 8am in the morning and when it came around to getting ready for a special occasion, I realised that I didn't have to re-do my makeup.  This pic was taken at 10pm so that's 14 hours AFTER it was originally applied! All I did was add a light dusting of powder on my T-zone.  In my opinion, that is one good foundation!I know some people think it would feel heavy but to me, it doesn't and I don't think it looks heavy either, in photos OR in 'real life'.

2) Wolverine - I never though a hamster could be so entertaining but he really makes me smile sometimes! He has definitely got bigger in the time we have had him and he is just the most docile hamster ever! He is never aggressive and he doesn't bite and we just love him!

3) Bridesmaids Shoes - I finally managed to find the perfect bridesmaid shoes for the girls.  I had a mental checklist of all the things they had to be...comfortable, not too high, no ankle strap, silver, no bits digging in.  I found the perfect shoes in Next for only £26!!!  They also come in 'Wide Fit' so that gives you another option if someone has slightly wider feet.  The pic below shows you what they look like.  Thankfully all the bridesmaids liked them so that's another thing crossed off the list.  Yah!

4) Slim Fast - I weighed myself yesterday as usual and I lost another 1lb! So that's 6 and a half lbs in just 4 weeks.  Granted it's not the most exciting thing to drink every day but it's definitely worth it when you find you can fit into your 'slim' jeans again!  I changed my gym programme again so that's working really well for me too.  I do have one day a week where I can eat what I want...I find that keeps me sane!

5) Jerseylicious - This is my guilty pleasure at the moment (it's on Sky, channel 253 The Style Network on Saturdays at 9pm).  I always Sky Plus this show, it's a reality show about a hair and beauty salon in Jersey called Gatsby (we all know these shows are usually far from reality though!).  It follows the stylists and beauticians at work and in their daily lives.   I always love the scenes between Tracey (the bitchy one) and Olivia (the underdog).  It's full on, ridiculous drama!he he.  I think Chris despairs about some of my tv viewing but I can't help but watch this show! Expect lots of animal print, fake nails, big hair and BIG attitudes.  Take a look at this clip... 

BAD TIMES

1) I don't know what's wrong with the skin on my neck at the moment but I started to get small cyst like spots underneath my jawline by my ears.  They almost feel like the bumps you get when you get bitten by insects.  I couldn't work out why I was just getting them there and not on my face (thank god!) and I finally worked out after some detective work that it was because of the moisturiser I use to blend my foundation into my neck.  I promptly dumped that in the bin and started using a tea tree one instead so hopefully that will clear up soon!

2) I desperately need my highlights done at the moment but I was waiting until I had a bit more money.  I just feel manky when my roots are all dark and I hate the way it looks.  I phoned to make an appointment with my usual hairdresser but she is on holiday at the moment.  I really don't like other hairdressers doing my hair because it's hard to get the same result you usually do, I have really built up a good relationship with my hairdresser and she does an excellent job on my hair.  I have the appointment on Thursday at midday so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it all goes well!

Jemma Kidd Make Up School

Hello lovely ladies! I hope none of you have been too affected by the volcanic ash fiasco! We were supposed to have some friends coming over from Ireland tomorrow by their flight has been cancelled and it doesn't look like they will make it.  It sucks! I was watching a programme on TV the other night about the volcano in Iceland and the most worrying thing is that whenever that one has erupted in the past, it's big sister (which is ALOT bigger) always erupts in the months afterwards...scary!

Anyways,I don't wanna scare you guys too much so on to some gorgeous summer products! I like to keep my lips super soft and smooth in summer so I always carry a lipbalm with me.  This Ultimate Lipstick Duo from Jemma Kidd in 'Wendy' is perfect for my handbag because it has a colourless balm on one end (which contains apricot kernel oil and karite butter) and a gorgeous peachy pink lipstick on the other end.  I adore the colour of this lipstick, it's so pretty and I always think that peach shades go so well with the golden tan you get in summer.  This shade is perfect for everyday use because it's slightly sheer so it never overpowers your face or looks chalky.  The consistency is creamy, it applies like a dream and it imparts a shiny finish to the lips.  The balm gives you a chance to prepare your lips properly before you put your lipstick on and feels really hydrating, my lips are always left really soft after I've used it.  I often apply the balm while I'm doing my makeup in the morning so by the time I'm finished my lips are moisturised and the lipstick colour goes on evenly.  The only downside about this product is that it isn't amazingly long lasting but I would never expect that of such a creamy lipstick anyway (think YSL Rouge Volupte).

The other product from Jemma Kidd I am really liking is the Tailored Colour Powder Blush Duo in no.1 (soft peach/beige).  Now I know there are a lot of girls out there who like crazy bright blushes but I'm not one of them.  I'm happiest when I just have a soft hint of colour to my cheeks (Mac Well Dressed being my fave blush of all) so I wanted to outline this to you before I told you about this blush.  I like this blush because it subtle and gives me a really natural look for daytime.  The blush is a combination of two shades (if you look in the pic, the beige colour is on the left and the peach on the right).  You can either use them separately or together.  I find it too fiddly to use them like that so I just swirl them together.  I really like the effect it gives and the powder is really smooth so it makes it easy to blend it into your cheeks. 

I don't know what it is but come summer time, I always become obsessed with peaches and golds! Is there any colour you obsess over when the sun comes out?

My Favourite Concealers

Hi guys, I hope you had an amazing bank holiday weekend! I certainly did and I also managed to get loads of wedding stuff done like the table plan, food menu and music.  There's only about 12 and a half weeks to go! We have finally managed to get our honeymoon booked too.  We are going to Kuala Lumpur for 3 days, then Borneo for 4 days, then Hong Kong for 3 days.  I CAN'T wait! Check out the hotel we will be staying in when we get to Borneo here .  And you know what this means...I have to buy lots of honeymoon outfits!ha ha.

Right onto today's post which will be a collection of my favourite concealers for various different reasons.  I would definitely say that concealer is a must have in my makeup collection.  I have really bad undereye circles, redness around my nose and I get the occasional blemish so there's no way I would go a day without my trusted concealers.  I really rely on this stuff to get that polished look to my makeup.

I always like to use different consistencies for different uses simply because you need a lighter formulation for the delicate under eye area whereas thicker concealers generally work best on the rest of the face.  I use Bobbi Brown Colour Corrector or Benefit Erase Paste as a base concealer (applied lightly) and then either Estee Lauder Maximum Cover in Light/Medium or Mac Moisturecover concealer to set the base.  Because the BB Colour Corrector and Benefit Erase Paste can set quite tacky, I always like to add a more fluid formula over the top to set them, stop them from settling in fine lines and ultimately to make it last all day.  I have to say that Estee Lauder Maximum Cover deserves a HUGE mention because it has become an every day staple in my routine.  I remember ages ago that Holly over at The Yummy Mummy's Beauty Blog advised that it could be used as an amazing concealer and boy was she spot on about that.  The thing that makes it so amazing as a concealer is the fact that the formula is so so light and easy to blend.  Also, you only need the tiniest amount to cover even the darkest of circles which means it's fantastic value for money.  This product definitely has HG status for me, it covers problem areas but it never ever looks heavy or obvious.  Overall, they are all great concealers but I have found that the best combination for a flawless, bright eye is Benefit Erase Paste with Estee Lauder Maximum Cover over the top to set.  Once you have swept some Benefit Powderflage over that, your eyes will look perfect.  I think of them as my holy trinity of concealing!

The concealers that work brilliantly for blemishes or any discolouration on my face are creamier, thicker formula's like that of Benefit's Boi-ing Concealer, MUFE's Full Cover or Mac Studio Finish.  Although Estee Lauder's Double Wear concealer is more fluid, it still works amazingly well on blemishes.  These all cover effectively but my favourite hands down is MUFE's Full Cover.  This stuff is waterproof and doesn't budge on my skin at all.  It covers blemishes with ease and makes my complexion look perfect.  I can't rave enough about this and I know that loads of other bloggers really rate this product.

A good concealer is something every girl needs and I would highly recommend any of these products if you're looking for a reliable go-to concealer.  What concealers do you rate as holy grail?