#SBBC – The Bad-Ass Biker Look

So I have no ‘It’s in the Bag’ for you tonight but I do have a sexy new biker jacket to share with you. I decided to go all out and create a Bad-Ass Biker look especially for the occasion. Now I’m not very ‘bad-ass’ as you can see, aside from a few tattoos I’m pretty low-key.. normally. But here it is anyway!

I’ve had my eye out for a biker jacket for weeks now and when I saw this one in New Look for just £39.99 I knew I had to have it. It’s bang on trend for Autumn and it’s practical too. It’ll keep me warm enough without making me overheat. I love the zip detailing on this jacket, it’s also really fitted and it’s so flattering. It nips me in at the waist too. It also has fab creases at the elbows which look fantastic. This will probably be my favourite Autumn piece.

I kept the outfit simple to let the jacket and shoes speak for themselves. I just popped it on with a simple vest top and skinny jeans. I love these shoes which I’ve had a while but I think the cute bows make it a more feminine outfit whilst still looking ‘bad-ass’.

To pull of this look I believe your makeup needs to stand out and make a statement too. For me, only a smokey eye and red lips would do. I used my Benefit Smokin’ Eye kit for the eyes. I used a No7 black metallic eyeliner across the whole of the top lid and 3/4 of the lower lid. I also used my new Body Shop Eyebrow Kit to define my brows a bit. I applied a couple of coats of They’re real and a bit of Benefit High Beam under my brow.

I applied plenty of M.A.C. powder blush in Mocha for a flushed, ‘I just got of a motorbike’ glow. Followed by highlighting my cheek bones with even more High Beam.

A slick of MUA Shade 1 lipstick over a Barry M Lip Liner and I was good to go, to go where I don’t know seeing as I’m still sat here and now in my pyjamas! I can’t wait to do this look again over the weekend!

10 Festival Beauty Essentials

With less than 2 weeks until I head to V Festival at Hylands Park with one of my favourite people my attention has turned to what I need to take with me. So here’s my list of the 10 essentials that I’ll definitely have with me!

1 – Antibacterial Hand Gel – With the toilet facilities lacking and being out in the open for 2 whole days (even though I’m heading home and not camping) this is the thing I could never attend a festival without.

2 – Sleek Pout Paint – This is a festival favourite, it can be used for cheeks and lips but for me it will be used to create pretty designs, perhaps flowers for a cute festival makeup.

3 – Water – If you want to keep your skin in top condition and not be the one passed out under a tree by 3pm then you need to stay hydrated! Most festivals only allow you to take a small bottle of water into the arena with you but have taps to refill, make use of this and drink plenty of nature;s good stuff!

4 – Sunscreen – You’re outside all day, even those of us who tan are at risk in those conditions, keep your sunscreen topped up and head for shaded areas when possible.

5 – BB Cream – Save space and take a BB Cream in place of a foundation and moisturiser, a BB Cream will double up as both and stop your skin from drying out. The Body Shop All-in_one BB Cream is my favourite!

6 – Fudge Urban Sea Salt Spray – With shower facilities limited and the expectation if rain at some point there’s no point in paying out to have your hair straightened while you’re there, instead spritz in some sea salt spray for a gorgeous boho, festival look, you could add some flowers to your hair too!¬

7 – Figs & Rouge Lip Balm – The is hygienic and easy to use without a mirror, it can also be used as a cheek stain and eye shimmer. Multi-taskers are the way forward when at a festival!

8 – The Body Shop Vitamin C Face Spritz – Ideal for a quick freshen up and to keep your skin looking radiant throughout the whole weekend!

9 – Makeup wipes/ wet wipes – Don’t forget to remove your makeup in the evening and wipe your face in the morning, also a good idea for a quick wet wipe bath to stay smelling a little fresh at least!

10 – Sunglasses – Protect your eyes whilst out in the sunshine, I swear half the time you site with the sun in your eyes! Plus sunglasses will always make you look that little bit cooler. Why not select a new fun pair just for this occasion?

I hope this quick guide has been of some use to you. What are your festival must-haves?

All the Fun of the Fair

Last night we decided to pop down to the fair whilst it was still in town. My 5 (nearly 6) year old has just started getting into fashion and style. He decided he was going to use my L’Oreal Professional techni.art Clay. Naturally I let him and decided to see how it held up at the fair!

He’s so damn cute with his little quiff going on! We put a little bit through all his hair to add texture and then pulled the front upwards. We added a little hairspray to finish. The cheeky smile says it all.. he knew he looked cool!

The clay is really easy to use, just a little is needed and it spreads though the hair well. It doesn’t have a nice smell but you can’t smell it once it’s on either.

 

 

Fin went on plenty of rides, a bouncy castle and a fun house, his hair as still holding up! 

We were totally loving our time together as a family. Fin was really going for it, loving being out way past bed time and the excitement of the rides.

He truly is the most amazing little man.

Though we totally shattered Fin out and by the walk home (we don’t have a car) he was wanting a little help. He gave us a cheeky little smile whilst clinging onto my husband and the day finished perfectly, with his hair still in tact!

xXx

Try it: www.lorealprofessionnel.co.uk

P.S. Mine is still in the old packaging, it’s lasted that long

MUUSE x Vogue Talents Young Vision Award 2013

The Beauty of Decay

I love fashion and I love seeing young talent receiving recognition and opportunities that they’ve worked incredibly hard for. A colleague of mine has a daughter that has been studying fashion for quite some time and she has been chosen for a young talent competition with Vogue and Muuse.

This competition means a great deal to her and she needs votes to get through to the semi-finals. If you could all spare a moment to have a quick look and vote for Kate I know she’d be ever grateful for the support of those of us who love fashion as much as her (almost!).  I’ve also had the pleasure of her working in our office during previous holidays and she’s a true style icon, I may be a little be envious of the looks she pulls off, but I won’t admit to anything..

It’s really simple, just click on one of the link below and hit VOTE!

http://www.muuse.com/#!vogue2013/200-kate-reeve

Thank you in advance!

It’s in the Bag!

It’s that time of the week again where we take a little snoop inside someone’s makeup bag. Tonight is the turn of another lovely lady on our panel, student Megan.

I always admire Megan’s style, she know’s how to dress to her personality and her makeup style follows suit. She’s also a wonderful and supportive friend of mine. I’m blessed to have her in my life. Without further a do let’s take a look at what she uses most.

The things that caught my eye first was the gloriously colourful eyeshadow palette and luscious brushes but those are not Megan’s top 3, these are:

L’oreal Paris – Natural Colour Riche 390

The shade of this lipstick is Nude Treasure, as the shade indicates it’s a wonderful natural colour. This is Meg’s favourite for everyday where. Nude lips are also very on trend as we speak so it’s perfect for when you want to be subtle. It’d also compliment a striking eye look. This lipstick comes from L’oreal’s ‘Made for Me’ range which was created to suit every woman’s (or man’s) skin tone and hair colour. It makes picking a shade so easy, this one is suggested for lighter skin. The ingredients are also fantastic, it contains omega-3 and vitamin E to protect your lips and keep them soft and beautiful.

Miss Sporty – So Clear Foundation

This little gem is new to Meg’s kit but has already made a substantial difference to her skin. She’s had far less break outs than when she uses other foundations and  it also provides a great coverage. The shade match her ski pretty well too. And the best part is it only costs £3.69 from boots. We love a beauty a bargain! It’s specially formulated to look after young skin, it doesn’t clog precious pores or cake up. It also lasts up to 9 hours and absorbs excess oils from the skin. It has a beautiful natural matte finish.

Rimmel – Scandal Eyes Mascara

When it comes to mascara Meg’s is as loyal as can be, she hasn’t tried many but has purchased this one 3 times running. Why risk change when you’ve found one that works for you? This one provides Meg with lovely long lashes whilst avoiding clumping and overly thick lashes.  The brush is also curved for a gorgeous uplift and is also a breeze to use at the corner of the eye. This mascara gets full marks!

I’m going to finish with a photo of the lovely lady herself. Thank you Meg for working so hard today on getting everything I needed over to me. If you’d like Naked Beauty to take a snoop through your kit drop me an email on tams.watt@hotmail.com.

A Wedding in the Sun!

I went to yet another wedding on Thursday this week, It was in the beautiful Coach House at Marks Hall in Coggleshall, Essex. It was a glorious sunny evening and I realised around 3pm that day that I had nothing to wear and nor did becky!

After the most hysterical changing room trip ever we both found a new dress in New Look. I totally loved the dress, I don’t know if they still do it in the adults section but I got it in the 915 range seeing as I’m fairly short! I love the aztec print on this one, as most of you know, I also adore anything navy right now.

I teamed it with a pair of navy wedges that tied in perfectly with my outfit. I decided to keep accessories to a minimum due to the striking pattern of the dress. I used a little black over the shoulder bag.

This is the overall look I created for my evening makeup that night, it took around 45 minutes so was easily manageable for a night out.

I kept my eyeshadow classy and neutral seeing as it was a wedding and I didn’t want dark smokey eyes for a summer evening.

I used a my MUA neutral palette to create this look which was perfect for attending a wedding. I used a base of a medium brown across the whole lower eyelid, then a dark gold at the outer corner and a lighter one in the inner corner. I then used a very light brown below my eyebrow. I also added some Benefit High Beam below the brow line and on my cheek bones. I loved this look and it worked well with my red Barry M Lipstick (Yes the one I rave about ALL the time!)

I also done 3 coats of the They’re Real mascara by Benefit and I think they looked pretty good!

To end I just thought I’d share a few photos of the night!

Find us on Facebook! Enter our giveaway there and take a sneaky peak at what brand new product I got today!

A Wedding in the Sun!

I went to yet another wedding on Thursday this week, It was in the beautiful Coach House at Marks Hall in Coggleshall, Essex. It was a glorious sunny evening and I realised around 3pm that day that I had nothing to wear and nor did becky!

After the most hysterical changing room trip ever we both found a new dress in New Look. I totally loved the dress, I don’t know if they still do it in the adults section but I got it in the 915 range seeing as I’m fairly short! I love the aztec print on this one, as most of you know, I also adore anything navy right now.

I teamed it with a pair of navy wedges that tied in perfectly with my outfit. I decided to keep accessories to a minimum due to the striking pattern of the dress. I used a little black over the shoulder bag.

This is the overall look I created for my evening makeup that night, it took around 45 minutes so was easily manageable for a night out.

I kept my eyeshadow classy and neutral seeing as it was a wedding and I didn’t want dark smokey eyes for a summer evening.

I used a my MUA neutral palette to create this look which was perfect for attending a wedding. I used a base of a medium brown across the whole lower eyelid, then a dark gold at the outer corner and a lighter one in the inner corner. I then used a very light brown below my eyebrow. I also added some Benefit High Beam below the brow line and on my cheek bones. I loved this look and it worked well with my red Barry M Lipstick (Yes the one I rave about ALL the time!)

I also done 3 coats of the They’re Real mascara by Benefit and I think they looked pretty good!

To end I just thought I’d share a few photos of the night!

Find us on Facebook! Enter our giveaway there and take a sneaky peak at what brand new product I got today!

Sleek i-Divine i-Candy Palette Review

Reviewed by Tams

I won this gorgeous eyeshadow palette from the Peach Parfait blog last week and I fell in love with it the second it arrived!

I’m head-over-heels-in-love with anything sweet related, even marginally, we even had sweet named tables at our wedding. So when this arrived with its uber cute candy packaging I was even more excited. Upon opening it, things just got better. The colours really stood out and have super cute candy names.

The next day I decided to give it a go, I couldn’t get on with the brush included so instead used my new Barry M shadow brush which I am also in love with and I’ll review it at some point.

Despite loving everything candy related I usually keep my makeup quite natural but this gave me the perfect opportunity to get creative. I absolutely love every single colour in this palette and it just goes to show that colour really is for everyone. I also adore that it has the black and white included, these are great for the eye-line and highlighting the brow.

Each colour comes out beautiful and they are very pigmented. Here are how they come out on skin:

Not only do they loo amazing but they blend really well too, pretty sure that by the weekend I’m going to have created a rainbow look, yes I am that crazy about this palette, it’s a job to choose which colours to use each morning. They also last all day which is a huge bonus. The Bon Bon, Aniseed and apple sour shades are also really shimmery and have looked awesome in the UK’s bright sun light.

This was the first Sleek palette I’ve ever used and I’m definitely going to have to get some more, they’ve blown all my other eyeshadow’s completely out of the water!

Shades I love most: Mint Cream and Blue Fizzle.

Try it: £7.99, www.sleekmakeup.com

Don’t forget to find us on Facebook and enter the giveaway!

Nautical but Nice

I live in a town by the water, we have a river that looks more like mud most of the time and some amazing old barges. I also have a tattoo of an anchor on my back in memory of my Grandad who lied about his age to get into the Navy. I also love everything stripes and navy. Therefore I am in love with everything nautical.

My nautical addiction inspired my look for Saturday night, I’m just glad that the high street is fulfilling my desires at the moment. I decided to match my makeup to my outfit on Saturday too. I used blue and navy eyeshadow’s from my Sleek icandy pallette, which by the way I promise to review tomorrow, finally! I also went with my favourite red lipstick which is a Barry M I mentioned here.

I also used a number of new products which I have to review this week including B.Flawless foundation and MUA Concealer. Due to lighting an a bit too much champagne we had a bit, ok a lot, of trouble getting a decent photo of my makeup but here is the best one I have.

I added a bit of extra MAC blusher after this photo as I felt so pale! I liked this look and will definitely recreate it sober and get a better photo! The lighting is all off on this photo and the one at the top is definitely the best. I love that I’ve finally got out of my smokey-eye addiction and started trying new looks! I got a fair few comments on how lovely my eye makeup looked saturday night, that felt pretty good!

Until tomorrow x

Nails Inc – St James Red Nail Polish Review

Review and photo by Megan, written by Tams

Stands out but doesn’t stand the test of time!

Megan found this nail polish really easy to use, the brush was the perfect size to stroke across the whole nail without making a mess.

On first impressions Megan loved the bright colour and how beautifully shiny it is and commented that it is definitely a statement nail polish. I say team it with a little black dress and gorgeous clutch bag for a striking evening look!

Unfortunately this nail polish didn’t last as long without chipping as many of Megan’s favourites so it wouldn’t work well as an everyday ‘I’ve got to do the dishes in this’ nail polish. However, Megan would happily use it again for a special occasion and recommend to it anyone looking for a nail polish that really stands out.

What Megan loved most: The shiny bright colour.

And least: It’s not long-lasting.

Try it: RRP £11, www.nailsinc.com