The Review: Smashbox Fade Out Palette

During my latest shopping spree, I took the regular stroll through the aisles of Boots, and came across this beauty in the Smashbox sale. Smashbox is a brand renowned for its primers and bases, and I admit I'm a fan of both. So I was intrigued when I picked this up to see what they had to offer in way of their other products - and I have to say I'm not disappointed. It has the perfect balance of textures, from matte, shimmer and even a glittery offering thrown in, and thus is great for a day to night transformation. If you're a lover of a good old smokey eye, but with a more natural finish, than this palette is perfect for you! All of the shades compliment each other beautifully, and the lightest shade makes a darn good under brow highlight! The pigmentation of these shadows is amazing, and teamed with a decent primer, they lasted all day - never a bad thing!

Its no longer available online, but there was quite a few in my local Boots, so have a gand!
Has anyone else tried anything from Smashbox that they would recommend?

Love
Meg xx

The Notes: Tools of the Trade

With all the new make up and beauty releases, it is easy to forget the everyday tools that we reach for to enhance our look. So I thought I would share the everyday tools that I use when doing my face for the day.

A must have in every make up junkies collection is a decent pair of eyelash curlers. I'm currently using the Body Shop ones, although I'm debating on whether to invest in a pair of Shu Uemura's legendary curlers. Anyway, a couple of pumps of these before I apply my mascara and my lashes have a nice curl that lasts all day! Little tip: if you warm them up before use it helps keep the curl in that bit longer! Another essential is a decent pair of tweezers. Whether you wax, thread or sugar, tweezers will help keep those strays that appear in between appointments in check! Also, they make applying falsies that much easier!

I always like to have a compact mirror on hand when putting my face on in the mornings, especially when it comes to mascara, as it just helps me to see more clearly. Those with a magnified side are a bonus for getting those lashes perfect! Cotton buds are also a necessity here, for the general tidy up after eyeliner application (it never goes right!) and to smudge out shadow for an even smokier look.

I also like to keep make up sharpeners close by, for lip pencils, eyeliners and the like. I have to have a sharp eyeliner pencil to get the line as neat as possible - otherwise, the panda look makes an unwelcome appearance! I have two sizes, a large Body Shop sharpener for bigger pencils, and a small Bobbi Brown one for thinner ones. My last dressing table essential tool is a nail file. Always great to keep on hand for those accidental chips and snags - I usually have a few lurking in my brush holder for emergency use!


So there we have it! My daily tool kit for emergencies, accidents and any disastrous eventuality!
Any essential tools I've missed that I need?

Love
Meg xx

The Review: Unique Argan Plus Luxury Oil

Hair Oils. I've tried my fair share of the babies and loved most of them and so was rather excited to give this one a go! I have really difficult frizzy hair, that can feel quite dry sometimes, so anything that promises to hydrate and smooth is fine by me! I have to say, that this one fits the bill perfectly!

As with most hair oils you only need the tiniest dot, which I then rub between my hands (as hair oils always work better when warmed) and smooth throughout the lengths of my hair. The result is silky smooth and shiny locks, which brush with painless ease - always a bonus! There is not much fragrance to it, which doesn't bother me in the slightest, although it might be a turn off for some!

The only downside to this is just the smallest amount too much product can leave you with the dreaded greasy hair look, that needs instant washing attention. But, tried, tested and lesson learned on that front!

 Its available here for 60ml.

Love
Meg xx

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The Notes: Evening Skincare Salute

As a make up and beauty lover, I am just as interested in skincare. Its true what they say - good skin is the basis of flawless make up! I am a firm believer that your skin and your smile are your best accessories, which is why I am so chuffed to have finally perfected my own skincare regime!

This has taken me near on a year to get right, after trialling many a cleanser and toner, from drugstore bargains to high end, all of which claim to give you the skin you have always dreamt of. I feel I now have a basic regime with a mix of price tagged products that gives me just that!

I start off with removing any make up with the L'Oréal Paris Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution (wow thats a bit of a mouthful), a beauty blogger fave and dupe for the infamous BioDerma. This stuff is great for dissolving away any mascaras that are hard to budge (Benefit They're Real I'm looking at you). Just holding gently over the eyelid for 30 seconds gets rid of any toughies in an instant. I then move on to a Clarins duo - the Cleansing Milk and Toner for oily-combination skin. I cannot rave about this pair enough, they perfectly compliment each other and the milky texture of the cleanser leaves my skin feeling soft and hydrated. I've also discovered that you can pick these babies up in a twin set for a great deal cheaper! Woop woop! Following the standard skincare mantra of 'cleanse, tone and moisturise' I whip out my Simple Kind to Skin Hydrating Light Moisturiser, which leaves my skin silky and soft in an instant. Its fast drying too, so I'm not waiting around forever feeling all slimy! Always a bonus! Its at this point that if I have any pesky blemishes I dab on the tiniest amount of Origins Super Spot Remover - seriously a holy grail product that rids me of any spots literally overnight! Its not an everyday product for me though, the combination of the clarions duo and moisturiser helps keep most blemishes at bay! Every weekend I change it up a bit and switch my cleanser for the Clarins Gentle Refining Exfoliating Cream to remove any dry patches that may have surfaced! 

So thats it! My evening skincare regime in a nutshell!

Love 

Meg xx

The Notes: Nail S.O.S

Its that time of year again! After a month of partying hard and sleepless nights its not just our skin and eyes that are suffering! Every Christmas and New Year I tend to go all out with my nails, whether it be extreme glitters or dubbing my tips with falsies. Either way, by January whats underneath the polish is suffering. 

So, with that in mind, here are my nail saviours that will hopefully leave your fingers dazzling in the January sunlight (or rain). 

First things first, I want to get off whatever it is that has left me in need of a nail SOS. So I use the OPI Polish Remover to whip off any leftover polish. Its doesn't dry my nails out, and leaves them feeling clean and fresh. I then file them down to my desired shape and length to keep them all healthy! At this point I'm usually glancing down at my hands and grimacing at the state of my cuticles. I have three saviours in the line up here, my favourite being the Sally Hansen 'Healthy Cuticles Now!'. Just a quick massage of this into my cuticles and all the excess is gone, leaving a softer easier nail bed behind. Avon's offering also does the trick, with a doe foot applicator to help push cuticles back gently. They have discontinued it (isn't that always the way) but I hear that their Nail Experts Cuticle Conditioner does the trick! Another good'un is OPI's Avoplex Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil which contains avocado oils to nourish and pamper dry cuticles. 

Now comes the real rescue. I swish on two coats of the infamous OPI Original Nail Envy and let it dry completely before smothering my hands in Soap and Glory's Hand Food. I'm yet to try a nail base that strengthens my nails and helps them grow like Nail Envy. Adding on another coat each day for a week helps keep those tips in tip top shape. I also love it as a chip resistant top coat on top of my favourite colour!

What are your nail saviours? Let me know in the comments below!

Love 

Meg xx

My First Ever Post!

Right here goes…

I have been thinking of starting a beauty blog for a very long time now. Bordering on years really! I love love love reading so many different blogs, especially those about all thinks make up related and have been itching to get my own up and running!


I'm not the most experienced of make-up appliers, but have a huge passion for make up, skin care and hair products - a passion that is causing me all sorts of storage dilemmas! I like to hope I've learnt a few things about beauty so this blog will mainly be about sharing my latest finds, beauty saviour products and my favourite bits and pieces! I'm sure there will be many a make up faux-pas along the way but hey-ho!


Anyway, onwards! I hope you enjoy hearing my thoughts about a ton of beauty products and I'm excited to think that someone might actually read my ramblings - I think my family and friends are getting slightly sick of me constantly saying 'ooh you've got to try this'! 

Love Meg 
x