Haul: Chanel, No.7, Toni&Guy

I thought I'd share with you some of my purchases that I picked up this week amongst others - these are just going to be a few makeup/beauty-related items :)

Today I stopped by the Chanel counter as they had just released their new Spring 2011 Collection. I had previously read Temptalia's (one of my fave blogs!!) post of the new collection and knew that I had to it check out once released. I already knew that I wanted 2 of the nailpolishes: 513 Black Pearl and 515 Peche Nacree, 13ml, but wasn't too sure on the eyeshadow palettes nor the lipsticks/glosses. The pic below doesn't really give the justice that both polishes deserve. Peche Nacree is a beautiful pearlescent peach with silver and pink micro-shimmers and would look lovely during the Spring/Summer months! Whilst the Black Pearl is more dimensional in colour. It's a gunmental colour with silver/grey and teal shimmers, depending on the lighting it can look more grey/silver or gunmental w/ teal reflects. Gorgeous, especially during the Winter months! I'm going to try out the Peche Nacree tonight and hopefully it won't be too streaky :S

The collection is actually really nice as a whole considering that I haven't followed their collections in years. They released two eyeshadow palettes: one limited edition and the other permanent. I swatched the LE palette, which had 5 shimmery colours but once blended, the pigmentation seemed to disappear on the back of my hand so I didn't bother. Eyeliners - I didn't think I needed anymore. Lipsticks - They had released 4 but I decided to only pick up one: Rouge Coco 77 Jersey Rose, as it seemed to be the colour that I would most likely use and it wouldn't just say at the back of my lipstick drawer.

The Rouge Coco 77 Jersey Rose is a sheer, mostly rosey but with coral hints lipcolour - the picture above doesn't really show the true pigmentation (Sorry!). This would be my 2nd lipstick from that line, the other one that I own is 05 Mademoiselle, which is much more darker and shall I say, mauvey-peachy-ish in colour (I'm crap at describing!). I actually like both lipsticks and hopefully the Jersey Rose will not fail me in the long run.

I also picked up the 38 Peche Precision Lip Definer, 1g, as I don't really own any peachy-coral lipliners and think it would really work during the summer. But it isn't a must so you can skip it if you already have peach/coral liners :)

I had one more No.7 £5 off voucher to use by Sunday so I stopped over at Boots on my way home. I don't really buy No.7 products whenever I makeup shop - to be honest, the only time I ever do is when Boots give the £5 off voucher (hahaha). I have a couple of their brushes that I love and an eyebrow pencil, but that's really it. Any lipsticks that I had brought previously, I gave to my mum x

Anyways, the first product I automatically saw and reached for was their Spring 2011 Collection Blue Cream liner (limited edition). I tried to take a photo but the colour keeps coming up black, so I gave up (Sorry again!). I would describe the cream liner as a dark indigo blue - that's basically it, no shimmer/glitter, just plain dark blue. I use Clinique's Cream Liners and they don't offer a dark blue, so that's how I decided at the counter to use my voucher :), in the end I paid £5.50. I don't have high expectations for the liner but let's just wait and see if it proves me wrong.

Earlier this week, I decided to start curling my hair on a more regular basis (as in once every 2 weeks hahaha). I don't really know much about styling hair and just blowdry and go. My hair length is past my bra-band to give you an idea, and it's thick, straight and black with some dark brown hints (from highlights years ago). I have one 1.5inch curling tong that I brought from Rite Aid, whilst I lived in the US last year, so I'm weary about using it in London due to the socket adapter and the handle heats up quickly. This Toni&Guy 38mm Tourmaline Wave and Curl Tong was really inexpensive and more or less the same as my American one. I picked it up at John Lewis Department Store. Considering that I don't really style my hair, I think that it's not necessary for me to spend a lot of money on a hair tool and this only cost me £19.95! I tried it out once this week and really loved the curls that it gave :)

So that's it! Just a few beauty/makeup products that I picked up this week. I also placed an order with Love-Makeup.co.uk for 3 Sigma brushes. The parcel came this morning but unfortunately, I missed it! :(

What products did you buy from Chanel's Spring 2011 collection? 

Love Sarah
XOXO

Some Makeup Products That I Love....during the Winter months...

Hmmm ok, so I'm thinking that my first official makeup post should highlight some products that I really love at the moment. These are actually a few of the products that I use on a daily basis, and I'm sure most of you will have heard of or tried them before....

1. Chanel Vitalumiere Satin Smoothing Fluid Makeup SPF 15, 30ml, Shade 40 - Beige, £31.65 - I purchased this a couple of months ago, as I started to notice that my Nars Sheer Glow wasn't producing the finish that it had done during the summer months - it just didn't give me that healthy 'glow' and radiance that I need during the colder months. (NB. This is partially to do with the fact that my skin type had changed as well from combination to dry/combi). The Nars Sheer Glow actually highlighted the drier areas of my skin so I knew it was time for a change (at least for the Winter months). Roll in Chanel Vitalumiere, yes it is the most expensive foundation that I have ever brought up until that point, but it was worth every single penny! I absolutely love this foundation! It has light to medium coverage and lasts a whole work/uni day on me. This is now my HG foundation for the Autumnal and Winter months =) According to Chanel, the Vitalumiere gives "a radiantly, youthful smooth satin finish, and a light, moisturizing texture. Your complexion is visibly rested...Your skin is energized...The youthful quality of your skin is protected". Yes please I'll have some of that, thank you very much! This product actually does stand by its' word. My skin looks more a wake, dewy and I'm more confident that people are not staring at the drier areas of my skin whilst I converse with them. It doesn't give you an oily finish if you set it with powder and blot once/twice throughout the day. Highly recommend this product! Wow, that was a big ramble! I'll try to refrain from now on but I just wanted to express how much I love this foundation! Since then I have purchased Chanel Prolumiere to test the finish as well, and have also loved it. 
2. MAC Blushcreme in Ladyblush, 6g, £16.50 - Following from the drier skin experience that I mentioned, this is my first ever cream blush. I swatched this on my hand at the counter and loved the opacity of the product. Once sheered out, it produced a beautiful pink, dewy finish. I have used this everyday since I purchased it - about a month ago. I apply with my Sigma F82 brush then set with a light dusting of Nars Deep Throat Powder Blush. The cream blush just gives me a more radiant glow to my skin, which is much needed during the cold days and nights.
3. BareMinerals by Bare Escentuals Glimmer Loose Eyecolor in Bare Skin, £14 - I purchased mine from feelunique.com and paid just below it's RRP, whilst it was on sale at the beginning of the month. Usually, I always have to apply 2/3 eyeshadow colours on my lids whenever I have an eye look. However, this is the only eyeshadow that I feel 'comfortable' wearing by itself. Due to the glimmer finish, it gives dimension to the shadow at various angles, giving the appearance of having more than one eyeshadow over your lids. It's a neutral, loose, pinky-peachy shadow - similar but lighter to MAC's All That Glitters and has smaller shimmer particles compared to Revlon's 002 Nude Slip eyeshadow. My go-to-in-a-hurry eyeshadow.
4. Dior Ultra-Shimmering All Over Face Powder in 002 Amber Diamond, 10g, £32 - I'm not one to highlight but have decided that this year, I will try new products that I don't normally use. After being on my wishlist for the past few months and from vast recommendations, I gave in and purchased it after a couple of times swatching at the counter. I think it was the price tag and the fact that I don't really use any highlighting products that prevented me from purchasing it in the first place. However, I have used this product every single day since I purchased it and it sill looks brand new! I apply this with my MAC 109 brush, just on top of my cheekbones. It gives such (again) a radiant glow to the skin, which is perfect for the dewy/glowy, awake look that I want.
5. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks in 180 Vintage Pink and 700 Nude Delight, £6.29 - Purchased these babies last year and despite the  amount of lipsticks that I already own. I have had only these 2 lipsticks in my make up bag that I use on rotation. The 700 Nude Delight, as the name can tell, is actually a warm-toned nude. Not as light as MAC's Creme d Nude nor as dark as MAC's Brave New Bronze (limited edition from the Style Warrior collection). It perfectly suits my skintone (Nars Barcelona, Chanel 40 Beige) and the opacity covers my red/pink pigmented lips. The 180 Vintage Pink is a cool-toned pinky-mauve lip-colour and has the same opacity as the Nude Delight. They last approx 3-4 hours on and do not dry out my lips. Beautiful!

Ok, so I know this has been an EXTREMELY LONG post on a few of my favourite products but they are my go-to-everyday makeup products, which I will continue to repurchase time and time again! (Despite most of their price tags).

P.S. Apologies for the lack of pictures and swatches!!! I'm still trying to get use to photographing in such rubbish lighting, but hopefully things will improve very soon once I get the hang of things :)

What are you favourite products for the winter months? Can you recommend me others? Share the love!

XOXO

First Blog Post! =D

Hi Everyone! ♥

Firstly, let me introduce myself, I'm Sarah - lover of all simple things that brings happiness to life, especially beauty-related products! and I'm blogging from a beautiful city called London. After a long time deliberating, I have decided to take the 'big' plunge and start up my very own blog. This is just my little humble corner to express my love for makeup, beauty and life in general :)

I have to admit that I am not a html/photographic/etc genius, so please excuse the basic layout of my blog whilst I gather my bearings in the blogging world.

Anyways, I hope you enjoy and find entertainment from my future posts!

Love Sarah
xoxo