FOTD: Pretty in Pink

 

FACE: MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NC15, Benefit You Rebel, Benefit Fake Up in 01 Light

EYES: Bare Minerals Eyecolor in Drama, Topshop in Precision Eyeliner, MAC Gel Eyeliner in Blacktrack, Benefit They’re Real Mascara

CHEEKS: Topshop Highlighter in Sunbeam, MAC Powder Blush in Coppertone

LIPS:  Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Lovesick, Bourjois Paris 3D Effet Gloss Shade 53

I haven’t done a face of the day for a little while! I feel like I’ve been neglecting the beauty side of the blog for a while, but that’s all about to change as I have tons of new reviews coming up which I’m really excited about! I thought I’d start it all off with a face of the day though! This is my make up look from last Saturday. I went and visited a friend for the night and she lives near the beach, so we headed to this gorgeous beach bar for a few vinos and a really yummy meal. Was such a great girly night, I love all my friends so much and hanging out with them always puts a smile on my face. As we’ve all got older, submerged in work and relationships it seems harder to meet up but when we do it’s always great, and puts me in a fab mood!

It was a gorgeous sunny evening (I fear it may have been one of the last ones of this summer, boo!) so I wanted to have a simple pretty make up look. I have recently purchased Revlon’s Just Bitten Kissable Lip Stain in Lovesick which is a gorgeous bright pink which I think was the centre piece of this look. It’s quite bright so I toned it down slightly by applying Bourjois Paris 3D Effet Gloss Shade 53 over the top. I’m conscious the tan I got whilst on holiday has now faded so I used Benefit You Rebel which is a tinted moisture and is slightly darker shade than id use on a daily basis. Then on top of my blusher I added Topshop Highlighter in Sunbeam for a bit of a sun kissed look.

This make up look is perfect as it’s different from my every day look but isn’t too much, so perfect to watch the sun set with a glass of wine!

BOOK CLUB TAKEOVER: Georgia from 'What Georgia Did Next'

Here are my thoughts… I LOVE hearing other people’s views and reviews on pretty much anything especially books! Some of my favourite reads are ones that have been suggested by other people. So thinking along those lines,’ The Book Club Takeover’ was born! Hopefully each week I will bring to you a post from one of my lovely and amazing fellow bloggers who will in turn share with you what their favourite book is, why they love it and a review. I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I do!

I'm Georgia from whatgeorgiadidnext.blogspot.co.uk, a fashion, beauty and lifestyle blog. As a huge bookworm, when I saw Gemma was planning on doing a book review post I just knew I had to get myself and my favourite book involved!

'The Help' Book Review:

The Help has been my favourite book from the first time I picked it up. It's the story of three very different women living in Mississippi in the 1960's; wise, loving Aibileen, feisty cook Minnie and the nervous wannabe journalist, Skeeter who all find friendship, love and themselves along the way. I love The Help because it's so beautifully written- it really comes from the heart. Kathryn Stockett's (the author) imagery is flawless: her descriptions of Minnie's meals will leave you salivating and when Skeeter describes her 'wedding cake' bedroom, you almost feel like you're sat there next to her, tapping away at the typewriter. The book is about Skeeter writing a book with Aibileen and Minnie helping her. Along the way, you learn about the three women and their lives and how they develop a friendship that defies stereotypes  class boundaries and even laws. The book is inspirational and so courageous and you find yourself falling in love with the characters and their beautifully developed personalities. Skeeter is the privileged  awkward journalist wondering what's happened to her maid, and best friend who befriends Aibileen, a wise, loving maid who lost her son and only survived the loss with the help of her best friend, the utterly perfect feisty, Minnie who's 'cooking is almost as sassy as her mouth'. I can read this book constantly because, for me, it's flawless: completely absorbing you in a forgotten world of racism, sexism and cotton fields. Each woman has their struggles, has their strengths and has their success. The supporting characters are just as well developed- Miss Hilly is just as you'd imagine the popular girl at school all grown up to be, Elizabeth is a confused, lost soul you just want to shake and Miss Celia is completely unique (and probably my favourite character!).

The book has also been turned into a film, with Emma Stone, which is just as wonderfully done: sticking to the original story and most of the original wording meaning its charm remains.

I couldn't recommend this book more and what better choice could their be than to choose a book that makes me laugh, cry and 'holla' (as Minnie would say) simultaneously?

 

Seventeen Lasting Fix Nail Colour in Silver Kisses

I’ve not used Seventeen products since I was about 15 and they were the cheapest range about, hence the only brand I could afford. However on a recent trip to Boots a couple of their polishes caught my eye and I thought I’d give them a try! I bought two colours and I have been pleasantly surprised, they are still a purse friendly brand but the quality is excellent. It’s long lasting and stays put! NO CHIPS!! If you are a regular reader you will know this makes me so happy! I’m a hands on kind of person so I put my nails through a lot and struggle with finding a polish that’s not chipped within a few hours let alone days.

This colour is called silver kisses and when on looks like a gorgeous champagne colour. I’ve had lots of compliments for this one which has been lovely!

The Body Shop’s Hemp Range

 

 

Many moons ago, to help me save up to go travelling when I finished college, I took a job as a dental nurse. One of the downsides to this role is having to wear gloves all day long which completely dried out my hands. Until one day I came across The Body Shops Hemp products, and my love affair with them began!

The reason I am writing about these products now is that recently I’ve been suffering from dry hands again. I am convinced this is due to the constantly changing weather we have been experiencing lately. However we Brits do have a tendency to blame the weather for all sorts! So instead of fretting about my hands I went straight to these products and within 24 hours there was already a great improvement!

The two products I swear by are the Hemp Hand Protector and the Hemp Moisturising Hand Wash. I carry a tube of the Hemp Hand Protector around in my bag so I can use it whenever I need it. The Hemp Moisturising Hand Wash, I have by my kitchen sink and bathroom sink and use it at least a few times a day.

Ok so it’s not the nicest smelling of products, and it’s quite a strong distinctive smell but it has grown on me and I kind of like it now!

This product is pretty magical, hence why I wanted to share it with you! If you’re having any problems with dry hands then I strongly recommend giving this a try! It works wonders!

Motivational Monday #23

 

Happy Bank Holiday Monday!! Hope everyone is enjoying the extra day off work and has something planned for today. I’m working later but I’m planning a lazy morning catching up on blog stuff, replying to comments and editing photos. I’ve been so busy lately it’s quite nice to have a lazy catch up day at home and hopefully it will make me feel more prepared for the week ahead!

Today’s motivational post is so fitting for me at the moment, I’ve been having a bit of a hard time lately and I sometimes need to remind myself of the positives as I’ve been feeling a bit sensitive. As much as times can be tough there are loads of good things going on around me and I am so lucky. I think we all just need a nudge to remind ourselves that we are all pretty awesome for our own individuality!

xxx

DIY: Needle Felting Framed Pictures

 

I used to love felting years ago and recently was reminded of it again. You can do so much with felt and its so versatile. I have in the past made a lampshade and a hat from felt. However for this project I thought id go a bit old skool and do some needle felting, it’s so therapeutic and you can be as creative as you like!

 

Items Needed…

Felt sheet

Raw felt

Foam sheet (to rest on)

Felt needle

Frame

Scissors

Plasters (This might be just me!)

***I purchased most of this stuff off eBay really cheaply! ***

What to do…

1.       Lay your felt sheet on top of your foam sponge.

 

 

      2.       Once you’ve decided on a design, place the raw felt on top of the sheet. I have chosen to do a couple of different heart designs, to create a set for a birthday present for a friend.

3.       You need the raw felt to fuse with the sheet of felt, so this is the fun bit! You need to use the needle to stab the felt onto the sheet. Keep repeating. You want to feel your needle going through your wool and into the sponge or foam, but not so far that you risk going through it into the hard surface below (or your leg, if you're doing it on your lap. Ouch!!). The needles are quite fragile so beware that they can snap!

 

 

4.       You can keep adding the raw felt to build up your design, make it a bit more 3D, add more colours, etc.

 

5.       Once you’ve finished your design, you can then frame it. I cut down my felt sheet in order to fit in the frames I had.

You can be as creative as you like with this project! I am really pleased with the end result and think mine will make a really cute present. Let me know if you give this a try!

BOOK CLUB TAKEOVER: Charlotte from 'Hello, I'm Char'

Here are my thoughts… I LOVE hearing other people’s views and reviews on pretty much anything especially books! Some of my favourite reads are ones that have been suggested by other people. So thinking along those lines,’ The Book Club Takeover’ was born! Hopefully each week I will bring to you a post from one of my lovely and amazing fellow bloggers who will in turn share with you what their favourite book is, why they love it and a review. I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I do!

 

Me: Charlotte Postings

Blog Name: Hello, I'm Char

I call my blog a beauty blog, but now, it's definitely leaning towards lifestyle, as I love to post about anything and everything! It's a place for me to review products, tell you about my day, post outfits, wishlists, receipes, DIY's and whatever I fancy. When I get asked what I blog about, I say "me" because that's it really. I hope you'll check out my little space on the internet.

 

Choosen Book: Me Before You by Jojo Moyes

 

Review: After reading this I am sat with tears filling my eyes. This book is absolutely heartbreaking and makes me really appreciate everything in my life and it's made me realize that one day were all going to die, no doubt about it and it's made me want to really do something with me life before it's all over.

 

Will Traynor is stuck in a wheelchair with no movement, and has to be fed by someone else. Louisa was his carer, but she soon became more than that. She was company, a friend, someone he loved, the only reason he lived. The only thing that made him happy anymore. But that didn't mean he was going to change his mind about going to Switzerland for suicide. There was nothing she could do about it. Even though she tried. She thought she could make a difference. She told him she loved him, but he just said that wasn't enough. I guess his time had just come and that was it.

 

I really did think that he wouldn't die, and that they'd live happy and everything would be okay. But towards the end, as I gripped onto the pages, I knew what was coming. In felt my heartbreak. I felt for Louisa, I really did feel her for. This man, Will Traynor, has changed her life completely, made her believe in herself, made her see the talent that she held, made her realise there was more to live for, more to do and see in the world. & in return, she made him happy. The last six months of his life, were the happiest he had ever been and that was more than enough for him. He was leaving this world knowing he had something, even if he couldn't hold onto it. Will felt like he was just going to ruin Louisa's life.

 

This is a story of friendship and love, and just an ordinary girl, meeting an extraordinary man, and being put into a really awkward situation, that she didn't think she could cope. But, by the end of the book, even though she has filled with sadness, I felt that Louisa was better than she had ever been. The book makes you really think about your life and what your doing, and it really made me cry.

Happy 1st Bloggiversary!

Today is Lipstick and Lashes 1^st Birthday! I can’t believe it! On this day last year I posted my first post about Topshop Makeup. I think I’ve come along way since then!

I didn’t instantly fall in love with blogging. I just wanted somewhere to write, to put down the thoughts in my head. I didn’t really get into it until February this year and began to post more regularly and now can’t imagine my life without blogging!

Lipsticks and Lashes initially started as a beauty blog but I now write about anything that takes my fancy whether that is makeup reviews, DIY escapades, motivational Mondays, Book Reviews or recipes. My blog has evolved so much and in the same sort of way I have too. Over the past year I have become more confident, more happy and much more comfortable in my own skin. I am, like this blog, a work in progress and I feel so positive about this, it’s a great place to be! I do feel a big part of this is down to this blog and the wonderful blogging community.

The fact that I never even though about the prospect of people reading my ramblings to now  having actual followers quite frankly baffles me but I feel so honoured that people do! The lovely comments I receive on here and twitter always put a massive smile on my face.

Therefore I want to take this opportunity to say a massive THANKYOU to you all! xxxx

Barry M Limited Edition Nail Paint in BLE 2013

I love the colour yellow at the moment, I don’t know if it’s a summer thing but I just find it a feel good colour! So when I came across this shade of Barry M Limited Edition Nail Paint in BLE 2013 I just had to try it. It reminds me of sunshine, beach parties and fun times.

It comes out a lot brighter than it looks in the bottle, it’s very neon! It’s a lot brighter shade than I would normally have on my nails, but it’s fun and I received a lot of compliments whilst sporting it!

I had to apply a few coats as found the consistency of the polish a bit gloopy which I found unusual for Barry M. Perhaps I just had a dodgy brush.

I do think everyone should try and insert a bit of bright colour I there day and what better way than through your makeup and nails?

Motivational Monday #22

I love today’s motivational Monday quote, it made me actually laugh out loud when I first saw it. Apart from the fact its Spongebob, it makes a huge amount of sense.

Laughing is the best cure for anything and everything! Laughing instantly makes you feel better and can be contagious.

As a whole I don’t think any of us laugh enough. When was the last time you proper belly laughed? Laughed so hard you couldn’t catch your breath? Laughed till you had tears streaming down your face?

It’s going to be my mission this week to laugh more and make those around me laugh! I hope you guys will take on this challenge too!

Happy Monday! xx

 

Food: Dorset Mess

 

This is my all time favourite desert, its Eton Mess with my own spin on it hence being a Dorset Mess! Being on Weight Watchers diet at the moment I wasn’t really sure what deserts I could have without using up all my pro points for the week in one go. That is until I came across Elmlea Light Single Cream Alternative and realised its ZERO points!! Therefore meaning this whole desert is only THREE, yes THREE pro-points which is for the meringues!

Ingredients:

·         Elmlea Light Single Cream Alternative

·         3 mini meringue nests

·         Blueberries

·         Strawberries

·         Raspberries

What to do:

1.      Cut up the fruit to your liking and place in a serving bowl.

2.      Take 3 mini meringues and smash them up using a rolling pin, so they are in small pieces.

3.      Add the meringue into the bowl with the fruit and mix together.

4.      Pour the Elmlea Light Single Cream Alternative over the top to your liking.

 

Voila! A yummy desert for only 3 weight watcher pro points!

BOOK CLUB TAKEOVER: Rachel from 'Spacebound'

Here are my thoughts… I LOVE hearing other people’s views and reviews on pretty much anything especially books! Some of my favourite reads are ones that have been suggested by other people. So thinking along those lines,’ The Book Club Takeover’ was born! Hopefully each week I will bring to you a post from one of my lovely and amazing fellow bloggers who will in turn share with you what their favourite book is, why they love it and a review. I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I do!

Hi! I'm Rachel from spaceboundblogs.blogspot.co.uk and I'm here to tell you a little about a recent book that I've fallen in love with. 

 

Firstly, for all of you know don't know me, I'm a 16 year old Irish girl who has blogging for nearly a year about fashion, beauty, books and every other little aspect of my daily adventures. Tea, cats and cosy nights in bed are a favourite of mine. I have always been a book enthusiast. I completely love reading and my bookshelf never stops growing uncontrollably. However, once I pick up a new book, I cannot put it down until I've read the last page.

I've read many post-apocalypse books (The Hunger Games, The Delirium Series and The Divergent series) so when I heard that there was this Maze Runner series out, I was pretty interested. However I became disheartened when I was told they were quite guy-ish novels. Then one day on twitter, a fellow blogger expressed how much she had enjoyed the book so as you can guess, I was in Waterstones as fast as lightening to pick myself up a copy. And believe me, the book did not disappoint!

 

The novels are wrote from a teenage boy, called Thomas, point of view. One day he arrives in a box to a strange place called the Glade, with no memories of what he is doing there, what has happened or what his second name even is. He is throw into a world filled with other boys around his age and quickly learns that he has arrived at an encampment situated in the centre of a maze. With strange events occurring, Thomas finds himself stuck in the middle of everything. The novel explores fear, frustration, friendship, sorrow and hope. James Dashner brilliantly designs a world that you can only imagine, one with so many strange twists and an unforgettable plot, you will be racing to the end. 

 

To whoever said it was a guy book, you stand corrected as I loved every second of it. You become attached to the friendships and feel the frustration first hand. It is very hard not to become wrapped up in the world that's created between the pages.  It is actually a first for me as I've never read a book from the males point of view, yet I can not flaw it. 

 

If you enjoyed The Hunger Games or any book set in a world with different rules, then I would highly recommend this novel. Or if you love a good adventure with many secrets that unfold, then go grab yourself a copy asap. I personally can not wait to get my hands on the next book in the series! 

 

I hope you've enjoyed my review and are tempted to dive in. Also a big thanks to Gemma for inviting me to post in her Book Club section on her lovely blog! If you want to check out any more of my ramblings head over to spaceboundblogs.blogspot.co.uk or drop me a tweet at @Spaceboundblog x x

Review: Maybelline New York The Rocket Volum’ Express Mascara

 

If you read my blog regularly you will know I am obsessed with Benefit ‘They’re Real’ Mascara. However when I ran out recently and thanks to a poor bank balance, I decided to be brave and try out something different!

During a Sunday night beauty bloggers chat on twitter I was recommended (multiple times!) to try out Maybelline New York The Rocket Volum’ Express Mascara, so I thought I’d give it a go! I went for the waterproof version as I figured it would be good for my holiday.

 

It has a large brush which is easy to apply. It definitely adds volume and made my lashes look longer and it didn’t clump. Whoooop! If I had to be picky the only downside I found to this product is that after a few hours my lashes went a bit flat which was disappointing.

I wouldn’t say it’s at the same standard as Benefits ‘They’re Real’ Mascara but I would say it’s a good back up. I will definitely be purchasing this again.

Revlon Nail Enamel in Siren

 



I am a recent convert to Revlon’s Nail Enamel, I’ve found its lovely to apply and most importantly doesn’t chip and is long wearing. The latest colour I’ve tried out is Siren. It’s a fab coral colour verging on orange, which I LOVE. It goes with everything I wear and adds a spark of colour.

Motivational Monday #21

 

What a difference a week can make! Last week I was feeling pretty down in the dumps but after a long chat with a good friend and a lot of soul searching I am feeling so much more upbeat now.

I’ve realised that I need to start taking charge of my life and that I often take on a lot of other people’s emotions and negativity and let it affect me. This is something I need to tackle and put a stop to, hence todays chosen post!

I am putting on my armour this week and fighting off negative vibes. I will have a positive and happy week!

Feeling Shady

I love a good pair of sunglasses! Living in England I know we have very limited sunshine and are more know for our poor weather, but lately we had a heat wave and every so often we get a sun filled day! Therefore I find its always useful to have a good pair of shades on hand, I keep a pair at the bottom of my handbag for those moments of need, along with my brolly!

I have a few pairs, one I keep in the car, one in my handbag and my favourite pair that I take out on special occasions. Also I am heading off on holiday soon so have been thinking about which shades to take and debating whether to treat myself to some new ones!

  This pair I purchased this summer from Dorothy Perkins. I quite like the square frame.

I received this pair of sunnys as a Christmas present from a friend. They are a black frame with a diamante eyebrow rim. They are quite 60’s retro.

These are my favourite pair of sunglasses that own! They are from House of Harlow 1960 and were pretty expensive! They remind me of Audrey Hepburn who us my ultimate style icon.

As you can see my collection is quite varied! I think you can have so much fun with a pair of sun glasses. They come in all shapes and sizes, can be amazing for wearing on sunny days or just to cover up this tired eyes and hangovers!

I recently came across the brand Cutler and Gross, they do some quirky styles that have definitely been added to my wish list. I am very tempted to treat my self to a pair for my holiday but apart from not being able to pick only 1 design they are a little out of my price range, varying from £300 - £365. A girl can dream!

 These are my favourite designs from Cutler and Gross. I LOVE them!!

BOOK CLUB TAKEOVER: Rebecca from 'itsrebecca'

Here are my thoughts… I LOVE hearing other people’s views and reviews on pretty much anything especially books! Some of my favourite reads are ones that have been suggested by other people. So thinking along those lines,’ The Book Club Takeover’ was born! Hopefully each week I will bring to you a post from one of my lovely and amazing fellow bloggers who will in turn share with you what their favourite book is, why they love it and a review. I hope you enjoy this feature as much as I do!

Hi all. My name is Rebecca of itsrebeccauk.blogspot.co.uk, and I jumped at the chance to take part in Gemma’s Book Club feature as I LOVE reading!

I mainly write my blog about beauty and lifestyle, and what it is like to be married to a member of the Royal Air Force, but in my spare time I have a real love for film and literature and I hope over time to incorporate this love into my blog as well.

I kept Gemma’s review style for this post so I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Thanks for having me Gemma J

Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

 

The Blurb

July 1209: in Carcassonne a seventeen-year-old girl is given a mysterious book by her father which he claims contains the secret of the true Grail. Although Alais cannot understand the strange words and symbols hidden within, she knows that her destiny lies in keeping the secret of the labyrinth safe...

July 2005: Alice Tanner discovers two skeletons in a forgotten cave in the French Pyrenees. Puzzled by the labyrinth symbol carved into the rock, she realises she’s disturbed something that was meant to remain hidden. Somehow, a like to a horrific past – her past – has been revealed.

The Review

 

First up, if you caught the televised version of this that was on a few months ago but haven’t read the book, then you NEED to read this because it is infinitely better. The TV series misses out such huge chunks of story and plot, and left me with a real misunderstanding of the story and I have actually read the book!!

 

Magic and mystery? Check! Men in armour? Check! Mean seductress? Check! Plucky young heroine? Double Check!! I knew this would be right up my street when my Nana recommended it to me; I am an absolute sucker for a historical novel.

If you have read any of dan Browns novels, you will be familiar with the popular storyline surrounding the ‘Holy Grail’. Kate Mosse’s ‘Labyrinth’ is a refreshing take on the idea and quest for the ‘Grail’, and I particularly enjoyed Mosse’s spin on what has become quite an almost over done plotline. Historical elements are heavily but easily weaved into this storyline, and the scenic descriptions are breathtaking. (Having read this novel I looked up Carcassonne and found Mosse’s description to be so effective that I what I had imagined was literally the real thing...Amazing!)

The plot weaves back and forth from Alice in modern day back to Alais in 1209; these two lead characters are clearly connected throughout the plot resulting in a really lovely flow to the story. Mosse’s cast are interesting and complex enough for you to really believe in them. All too often I read books where the characters are so 1D that they are utterly predictable but I really enjoyed the intricacy of these characters and I was gripped from the word go.

It’s tricky to offer a review without giving too much away, but I would definitely recommend this read if you are at all interested in history, and even if you are not I would still say give this a go! The story itself is so enthralling that you will pick up the historical elements as you go along and Mosse does a great job of explaining anything without being to patronising.

 

Kate Mosse has definitely become a favourite author of mine following this book. It is totally effortless to read and is a firm favourite of mine (my dog eared copy has been read about 3 times).

Thanks again Gemma for having me,

 

Rebecca x

H&M Nail Wrap

I came across H&M Nail wraps whilst browsing in one of their stores recently. I had not tried any Nail wraps yet so figured I would give it a go. They are so easy to apply! You basically get a sheet of nail stickers which you match to the size of your own nails. You then peel off the stickers and place them onto your own nails. You then peel off the stickers and place them onto your own nails, smoothing out any bumps. Then use a nail file to file off the excess sticker. Easy Peasy!

 

I was so impressed with the result, I think they looked great and I love the turquoise and silver ombre colour. However I did do them during our recent heat wave and wonder if the heat affected the stickiness of them. They started to peel off the next day which was disappointing. Therefore I wouldn’t say they are lasting but for fantastic looking nails on a night out or an event, I would definitely recommend these!

 

Review: Maybelline New York Eyestudio in 720 Iced Fudged/ Marron Glace

Lately I’ve been living in the land of skint, god knows where my money goes but I’ve been living off limited funds lately. Therefore when my beloved MAC eye shadow ran out that I use daily I was faced with the dilemma of replacing it or paying a quarter of the price for a high street brand replacement. So for once I went with second option much to the relief of my bank balance!

 

After browsing in my local Boots I came across the perfect shade in Maybelline New York Eyestudio in 720 Iced Fudged/ Marron Glace. It’s a gorgeous brown/purple shimmery colour.

 

I was unsure if it would have the same staying power as my old MAC favourite, buts it’s great! It stays put all day and doesn’t fade. My only complaint is that the powder isn’t as compressed as MAC so after using it a few times you end up with quite a bit of loose powder. This is also reflected when you apply it to your lids as you do end up with a little bit under your eyes.

I have been using this shadow for a couple of weeks now and I do like it and have been converted but if my finances turn around I will probably break and return to MAC!