Monday 23 February 2015

Celeb February Fashion Round Up

This month has seen some of our favourite celebrities killing it on the fashion front. Social media and television has been floor length dresses and sparkles galore with it being red carpet season and I just can't get enough! 
Below I have put together my favourite february looks, from the red carpet to magazine shoots to celebrities on the street! 


I can't write a february fashion post and not mention Kim Kardashian in this Jean Paul Gaultier gown at the Grammys. At first glance I fell in love, Kim looked as glamorous as ever in the heavily embellished silver and gold belted coat-come-dress. However after watching E!'s Fashion Police, stylist Brad Goreski pointed out that Kim's dress should have been tailored to fit her, as we can see on the runway, the models sleeves finish neatly at her wrists whereas on Kim the sleeves are way too long covering her hands, and the same goes for the length of the dress. I hate to fault the outfit but I couldn't help but agree with Brad and I think the fit distracts from what could be a flawless look. On the other hand I love her new hair, this is sure to be another trend set by Kim and as always her makeup is on point, I don't think anyone could ever fault Kims makeup.


And I'm not finished with Kim yet...At the RocNation Pre-Grammy brunch Kim showcased her short wavy hair for the first time and wore a Balmain midriff baring two-piece with Balmain and Lanvin statement gold jewellery. Kim reminded me of an Egyptian princess in this outfit, she looked very striking in red; a colour we don't often see her in - in fact we don't often see her wearing bright colours at all. 


At the GQ and Georgio Armani Grammys after party Kims sisters did not disappoint. 
Khloe, Kendall and Kylie attended the party together and as always they left a lasting impression on us all. The three sisters all looked stunning, super model Kendall looked chic in a lace Elie Saab dress with plunging neck line but its Kylie and Khloes dresses that really caught my eye. 


Kylie is always giving us something to talk about; her lips, hair, boyfriend and this dress! This figure hugging number with unique cut out detail is by designer Steven Khalil. This is a very mature and classy look from Kylie who is only 17, the floor length dress really emphasized and showed off her curvaceous physique. The sparkling ivory dress had sheer detail which seems to be a trend on the red carpet at the moment. She wore this with muted accessories which was a good choice but I must point out the gold trim on her clutch bothers me, it should have been silver. Her makeup was perfect as usual; simple but effective. I must say I'm not crazy about her wavy, lifeless hair, this is a hairstyle Beyonce has been seen wearing on the red carpet but I just don't think its for the occasion, a sleek and more 'done' hairstyle would really finish this look off nicely. 


I think Khloe is slowly turning into everyones favourite Kardashian. Khloes look has really evolved over the past year and she just keeps getting better and better. This has got to be my favourite look from the entire Grammys weekend, I can't criticise her at all, I love everything about this look; the pop of colour on her lips and she is sporting my current favourite slick back hairstyle. The dress, by Constantina & Louise displays Khloes long toned legs and insane curves. The gown entails a long trail, a plunging neckline and thigh high split - so a lot of skin was on show but Khloe didn't fail to look elegant and classy. 


Nicki Minaj has came a long way from her 2012 Grammys appearance - and thank God for that! Finally Nicki has ditched the bubblegum pink lipstick and crazy wigs and opted for the sophisticated look and whats more sophisticated than a Tom Ford dress? My only criticism is that tattoo on her arm - tattoos and red carpets do not go together! 


Fashionista Gwen Stefani went for a different approach and wore a jumpsuit by Atelier Versace for the red carpet. She let the unique jumpsuit do the talking and opted for minimal makeup and her hair was swept back in a quiff. 


Moving on from the Grammys, lets take a moment to appreciate Rosie Huntington-Whitely at the Tom Ford Fashion Show in Los Angeles. The british model looked like a golden goddess as she donned head-to-toe Tom Ford in a backless chain dress and signature TF sandals. 



 Its not a Rose Beautique fashion post without mentioning my ultimate style icon Jennifer Lopez! J.Lo along with other guests payed homage to Tom Fords designs and she looked every inch the diva in a TF Fall '14 black lace and crystal embellished dress and TF Spring '11 over-the -knee fish net boots. The detail in this dress is incredible, I can't even begin to imagine whats on the price tag. I love this look, at first I was unsure on the dress/boots combination but as usual J.Lo pulls it off like no other. She finished off the look with a sleek high pony tail and a natural bronze glow.


Last night lots of celebrities attended the Oscars including this beautiful lady Chrissy Teigen, wife of John Legend. Chrissy has been rocking the red carpet recently but this is my favourite look of hers and my favourite look of the night,  I think she stole the show in this ice blue ensemble by the talented Zuhair Murad whose designs have also been worn by Ciara, Chanel Iman and Sofia Vergara. 



She's done it again! Jennifer Lopez pulled off two incredible dresses last night but her second look was my favourite. J.Lo continued her fashion reign as she slipped out of her Elie Saab Oscar dress in exchange for another fabulous design by Zuhair Murad to attend the Vanity Fair After Party. The look was complete with Jimmy Choos and a white fur shawl which was draped around her waist. J.Lo somehow manages to top her last look every time, I can't wait to see what she wears next!


Now for something a little different. Rihanna graced the cover of Harpers Bazaar magazine for their March issue, in her photoshoot she wore a slinky gold Balmain jumpsuit designed by Oliver Rousteing teamed with Giuseppe Zanotti sandals and gold jewellery. 


In the above picture we see Kendall Jenner and Chrissy Teigen both rocking the same $19,900 Saint Laurent fur coat with leather sleeves. Kendall wears the coat in a sophisticated way with leather trousers and heels where as Chrissy dresses the coat down with distressed jeans, a beanie hat and boots. Both of the girls pulled off the fur/leather combination but I prefer Kendalls glamorous interpretation of the coat. 


Khloe looked breath taking in a crisp white Mulger blouse and Tuxedo pants, to match she wore white Gianvito Rossi pumps and a Chanel clutch. The look was complete with big loose curls and bronze girly makeup. 


This has got to be one of my all time favourite Kim looks. She was papped wearing a white Calvin Klein two-piece, a staple in her wardrobe. Resting on her shoulders was a beautiful dusky pink Givenchy coat with fur collar and textured sleeves. Kim wore delicate Manolo Blahnik heels and her new short hair was sleek and straight. 


Kim looks just as glamorous on a day time as she does at a red carpet event. In this picture she is wearing a Lanvin coat and dress with Christina Louboutin heels that look as if they were made to match. 

Thank you for reading!

Thursday 19 February 2015

Recent Beauty & Makeup Haul


Recently I have bought some makeup and beauty products which are all very new and exciting to me. I have been trying most of these products out over the past few weeks but some I have just bought today that I want to include in this post whilst they are new and fresh on my mind!  



MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance Illuminating Base (Radiant Yellow) 

This purchase was actually a mistake on my behalf, I pointed this moisturiser out to the MAC makeup artist thinking it was the 'Skin Base Visage' primer; both these products are in very similar packaging which I wasn't aware of. However I've been wanting to try some new face products and luckily I'm pleased with how this product works so it wasn't a complete a waste of money as it is getting used daily, I will just have to make sure to pick up a primer on my next visit. I use this as my moisturiser and apply it immediately before foundation, it brightens my skin and gives me a healthy glow. Although I see this product as more of a moisturiser it claims to 'hydrate and prime skin to improve foundation and powder  application' I must say I agree and I have noticed a difference in the outcome of my foundation, it blends easier, doesn't look cakey and is longer lasting. I have only used this with Kevyn Aucoin SSE but I am loving the combination on the two and is certainly competition for my beloved Charlotte Tilbury 'Light Wonder' Foundation. 

Kevyn Aucoin The Sensual Skin Enhancer 'SX08' 

This is a multi-purpose product which can be used as a full coverage foundation, concealer highlighter or mixed with a moisturiser or facial oil for a tinted moisturiser effect. Buying this online was a risk but I heard so many great reviews I had try it for myself. I had no tester so I had to guess my shade with other bloggers comparisons to MAC foundation shades. It is pricey at £34.00 for only 18 grams and although I knew the product was going to be small I couldn't believe quite how small it was when it arrived. Luckily I am happy with the shade I chose, this shade was compared to a MAC NC 30 which is what I used to wear. 
When I first tested the product I wasn't immediately impressed, the consistency is a lot different to the foundations I usually use as it is a thick gel-like texture and very pigmented. However after playing with the product and trying different techniques of application I have learned to love this as a foundation and I am using it daily. 
Only a small amount of product is needed with each use as a little goes a long way and thats why it comes in a such a small package. As a foundation this works best applied to skin which is freshly moisturised so that the foundation can slip and blend easily.
 To apply I pick up a small amount of product and evenly distribute it on all areas of my face before blending it out either with a Real Techniques Stippling Brush or a damp beauty blender I bought off Ebay (I'm not paying £15.00 for the original beauty blender any time soon, a sponge is a sponge).
I love this foundation because it is so versatile, I can have a full coverage foundation for a night out or I can create a tinted moisturiser for a day time and either way I wear it, it is long lasting and stays in place. As a foundation it doesn't look cakey or feel heavy, my skin looks and feels flawless, fresh and luminous. 



YSL Palette Ombres De Jour (5 Color Ready-To-Wear)

When I clocked this limited edition palette I had to have it before it flew off the shelfs. The sleek and sparkly pink, gold and black packaging is to die for and so me! This is not a product hidden in my makeup storage, instead it is displayed on my dressing table alongside my other favourite luxury products. Inside holds 5 eyeshadows; 3 neutral shades, a shimmering black, a pop of pink and 2 small brushes. I love the ready-to-wear colour combination making this a great palette for on-the-go. This is my first time using YSL eyeshadows and I would say the formula is quite similar to Urban Decay eyeshadows but with less fall out. Personally I don't think MAC can be beaten for eyeshadows as they are so densely pigmented but I am happy with this purchase, I'm sure it will get lots of use and its always exciting to try new products, especially when they're this pretty.  



YSL Rouge Volupte 29 'Rose Opera' (Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick) 

I included this in my 'Luxury Makeup Wish List' post which you can find here. I have been admiring this beautiful lipstick collection for a long time but its took me all this time to buy because I always find myself getting carried away at the MAC counter buying MAC lipsticks and MAC everything! 
YSL have done it again with this stunning packaging and obviously I can't hide this one away either, its stood right next to my YSL palette on my dressing table. I opted for a pink lipstick for a change because I've been wearing a lot of nude and neutral shades lately. This is the perfect pink lipstick for me; its a medium pink with neutral undertones which I prefer against my skin tone rather than a pink with blue undertones. The formula of this lipstick is very creamy and moisturising so the lipstick just glides right on. It's very pigmented so only a little product needs to be applied for a full coverage glossy finish. 


Tom Ford Lip Color 04 'Indian Rose'

For a long time I have been dying to get my hands on some Tom Ford products but it is some of the most expensive makeup I have came across and I couldn't quite fathom spending £37 on a lipstick alone, but as usual I caved and bought the makeup... The only problem is now I want to buy more and I've got a holiday to pay for! But for now I will settle with this gorgeous lipstick in the shade 'Indian Rose' which is absolutely perfect everyday use. It has been compared to a popular lipstick by MAC 'Pink Treat'. It is a very neutral shade; a rosey-pink, almost like an amplified version of my natural lip colour. The formula feels light on my lips and is creamy and moisturising and the finish is opaque with a sheen. 


Urban Decay Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner 'Junkshow'

Lately I've been loving glitter eye makeup so this eyeliner was a must have. There are 7 colours in this collection and of course I went for the pink with iridescent glitter. These eyeliners are a great and easy way to spice up a smokey eye, and take a look from day to night. The glitter glides on and applies smoothly and stays put for sparkling eyes that last all night. 


Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil 'Perversion'

This eyeliner is blacker than black and stays put all day/night. The pencil glides on so smoothly making it perfect for use on my waterline which is what I specifically bought this liner for. 


MAC Technakohl Eyeliner 'Snowed In'

 I wanted a white/cream eyeliner to use in my waterline to give the illusion or brighter and more awake eyes. Unfortunately I haven't been impressed with this liner, its not very pigmented at all and doesn't show up on my waterline. This is definitely something I regret buying, next time I would like to try an Urban Decay white/cream eyeliner and hopefully it will be as impressive as their black eyeliner. 


In Extreme Dimension 3d Black Lash 

I have finally invested in a new mascara because I am so bored of my Barry M mascara - its only benefit is that it is 100% waterproof and smudge proof. On my last 2 visits to the MAC counter the makeup artists have asked me what mascara I am using, the first time I resisted buying but the second time the girl really sold this product to me. She said that it is completely smudge proof and it will separates all my lashes giving them length, volume and curl. She also said that if this product doesn't work for me I should bring it back for a refund which I think is brilliant but hopefully I won't have to do that.


MAC Eyeshadow 'Tempting'
I haven't bought eyeshadow in a while after spending most of last year buying eyeshadows to fill my MAC palette but after seeing a makeup tutorial with this eyeshadow I had to have it, after all my 'Mythology' eyeshadow is almost empty and I need to replace it with something. This colour is described by MAC as 'sinfully rich coco' - I'm not sure what that means but I would say its a bronzey brown with gold shimmer, a really gorgeous colour which I know I will be using a lot! 


Thank you for reading!

Tuesday 3 February 2015

Recent Makeup Look: Pink Glitter & Black Smoke

As I mentioned in my previous post I have been trying out some new eye makeup looks which you may have seen on my Instagram. This one is my favourite, I've had this MAC pink glitter for a while now and had never put it to use but after trying it out for the first time I loved the outcome and its definitely a look I will be recreating for a night out.


*As you can see I'm not wearing false lashes as this was a practise run, if I was to wear this out I would add false lashes for a more dramatic finish.

This glitzy eye makeup is rather extravagant making it perfect for a night out or party. To create this look I started with an eye primer, as usual I used MAC 'Painterly' Paintpot. I then applied a small amount of fixing gel on my eyelids for the glitter to adhere, I used a small flat concealer brush to pick up the glitter and tapped off any excess product before applying to my lids, I repeated this process till my lids were completely and evenly covered with glitter. To warm up and define my eyes I applied MAC 'Soft Brown' eyeshadow in my eye sockets, this is also used as a transition colour to fade out dark colours so that they blend seamlessly. I then applied my favourite black eyeshadow, Urban Decay 'Blackout' in the outer corner of my eyes to create a winged out effect, I used this colour heavily in the outer V and then used a fluffy brush to lightly blend the colour out and fade towards the socket. I also took this black eyeshadow along my lower lash line to make my eyes look extra smokey. For my waterline I took a fine liner brush and spritzed it with MAC Fix + Spray then picked up some of the black eyeshadow, this is a great alternative for an eye pencil. To finish I used MAC Liquid Eyeliner to define my upper lash line and as always I highlighted my brow bone and inner corners with MAC 'Vanilla' pigment. 

product list. 

eyes
MAC 'Painterly' Paintpot 
Fixing Gel (unbranded)
MAC Pink Glitter 
MAC eyeshadow 'Soft Brown' 
Urban Decay eyeshadow 'Blackout'
MAC Liquid Eyeliner
MAC Pigment 'Vanilla' 
HD Brows Pro Eye & Brow Palette 'Dark Brown'  (Brows)
Barry M Lash Vegas Waterproof Mascara


face 
BH Cosmetics 10 Colour Camouflage and Concealer Palette
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in Medium Plus 
Charlotte Tilbury 'Filmstar Bronze & Sculpt' Face Sculpt and Highlight
Charlotte Tilbury Cheek & Chic 'Swish & Pop' Blusher in 'Ecstasy'

lips
MAC 'In Anticipation' Pro Longwear Lip Pencil
MAC 'Chatterbox' Lipstick