Product Spotlight: Collection 'Bedazzled' Palette

Hey Guys!

A couple of weeks ago it was my birthday and among many other lovely presents and cards that I received from my family and friends, I was given this Collection eye shadow palette. Let me just start by saying that if you hate shimmery eye shadows and the thought of glitter makes you shudder then click away now - this definitely won't be for you.

The packaging of the product isn't fantastic, it's just a cardboard 'book style' palette with a magnetized close -however for the price point I wouldn't really expect anything too expensive looking packaging-wise.  

The eye shadows themselves are of average size, and as you can see from the above picture, very, very glittery. The bottom row of colours aren't really ones that I would think to wear (being a strictly neutrals only girl) but I think that they're a nice addition for someone who likes to add a pop of colour to their look now and again.

Sadly, as you can see from the above swatches, the colour payoff from the majority of the shadows isn't great - there is extensive glitter fallout from all but the copper toned brown on the far left, and the white, grey, peach and bronze shades barely show up at all. The shadows are fairly chalky and difficult to work with (again with the exception of the copper-brown) and so I wouldn't really recommend this product to you if you're looking for good quality eye shadow on a budget (perhaps somewhere like Sleek or MUA would be better).

The palette can be picked up from Boots or Superdrug for £4.49

Hope you've all had a great week!

Penny

XoX

Back to School Clothes Wishlist

Hey Guys!

When school starts in September I'll be in Sixth Form and therefore allowed to wear my own clothes as oppose to the unflattering, boring uniform that has been obligatory for all of my previous school years. Whilst this sounds like it'll make going to school a lot more comfortable it also has the potential to be extremely stressful in the mornings, so below I've created a little 'capsule wardrobe'/wishlist of smart-casual pieces that are suitable to wearing at a school with a fairly relaxed dress-code.

The clothes I've chosen are mainly autumn/winter pieces with a fairly muted colour scheme, but many of them can be mixed and matched to create a variety of simple, comfortable yet stylish outfits for school.

1. I've picked two pairs of my favourite River Island 'Amelie' skinny jeans in black and dark blue which are £30 each- not too bad for good quality staple pieces that you can wear with many different tops in all seasons.

2. A good pair of basic 'go with everything' flats are essential for school and the gold detailing on this £28 pair from Miss Selfridge adds some extra interest to the shoes.

3. This simple black blazer from H&M is super affordable at £14.99 and versatile, perfect for dressing up a variety of different outfits.

4. The lace shoulder panels on this simple white shirt from Forever 21(£18.75) make something that could be boring a little more stylish and interesting.

5. Skater skirts are great for school because they're comfortable and flattering, these black and maroon ones, both from River Island and both under £20, would go with a variety of tops and are suitable for all seasons.

6. A denim jacket is great for layering with skirts and dresses when the weather gets colder, and this one from H&M is a bargain at £24.99

7. This Minnie Print top which is £18.75 from Forever 21 is perfect for making a fairly formal outfit that little bit more casual.

8. A leather jacket is another layering staple and this faux leather biker jacket from H&M is a steal at £29.99

9. A simple long sleeve, slouchy top is perfect for pairing with skirts and jeans and this cream one from River Island (£14) is a great basic to own.

10. Ankle boots are great all year round and these black ones from New Look are stylish and reasonably priced at £19.99.

11. A simple T-Shirt style dress is both flattering and practical, this burgundy one from New Look is only £12.99.

12. A cardigan is an essential in Britain where the weather can turn at any moment! This one from Topshop, although not the cheapest at £38, is extremely versatile because of its colour and style.

Happy Back to School Shopping!

Penny

XoX

The Summer Sales Steals

Hey Guys!

Sorry for the silence on the blogging front for the last few days, but we've been a bit busy with finishing up our exams and prom prep- but now we're back!

Sales season has rolled around again, and we're super excited to get our hands on some amazing bargains because as much as we love to shop, it can be a bit of a drain on our (limited) budget. Below we're showing you our top ten sales picks from our favorite high street stores to give you guys some inspiration because although you can find some real gems in the sales, lets face it, often a lot of it is stuff that most of us wouldn't really wear!

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We know that these ten picks don't follow one particular trend or style, but we really like each of them individually and feel that these are some of the best pieces in the sales stock of this season.

Happy Bargain Hunting!

Penny and Clio 

xox

S/S '13 Makeup Trends: 'No Makeup Makeup': Drugstore Edit

Hey Guys!

I've decided to do a series of posts based around the drugstore products you would require to recreate the on trend makeup looks for this season so you can get a catwalk ready look for less!

The first trend I've decided to write about is 'no makeup makeup'- because this is a really fresh faced, natural look which is easy to recreate and can be worn to a variety of places, from school/work to a party (giving you a laid back but still pretty appearance).

A key feature of this look is skin which is perfectly powdered in the right places (T-zone) but still has a glowy effect on the cheeks to give a youthful feel and stop you from looking unnaturally matte. Additionally, a natural foundation and concealer have been combined to create a flawless base.

A light natural toned blush should be swept across the cheeks, and the eyebrows can be lightly filled in if needed. Then a product such as a tinted lip balm can be used to add a 'sheen' to the lips.

Finally, a brown gel eyeliner (or black on darker skin tones) can be used on the top lash-line to create the illusion of thicker eyelashes, and a nude eyeliner in the lower waterline for a 'wide awake' look. Finish with a few coats of a non-clumpy mascara. 

Drugstore Product Picks:

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These products are all great on their own but ,when combined, will create the dewy-natural finish you're after so you'll look as good as the models at London Fashion Week for a fraction of the price!

Penny

xox