Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura Prestigious Bordeaux Palette

Unless a lottery win is on the horizon I doubt I'll be purchasing any Lagerfeld designs anytime soon, so when the Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura collection was released I had to have it! 

This little beauty caught my eye immediately, however being a mother with Christmas presents to buy I couldn't justify the purchase and had fingers crossed it would still be available afterwards. 

Well imagine my elation when browsing through the Selfridges online sale and coming across the object of my affections for.....wait for it.....HALF PRICE!!  Well I shimmyed my onesie clad booty round the living room doing a rendition of the Birdy Song then promptly made my purchase before it was sold out which I now believe it has as I can't find it on the website.

The packaging is beautiful and totally unique, exactly what you would expect from two such prestigious names. Lagerfeld and Shu Uemura were close friends. Lagerfeld has used Shu Uemura shadows for 20yrs to sketch his designs claiming them 'better than pastels' a statement I totally agree with. I don't feel i'm articulate enough to describe just how amazing the texture and pigment of these shadows are. I swatched them with my fingertips and I would liken the sensation to the feel of pure silk. I barely touched the palette yet the colour on my tips was so intense, they're packed with pigment. 

(Top with flash,  Bottom no flash)

As you can see the shadows swatch true to colour. This particular palette caught my eyes as all the shadows are fantastic for enhancing green eyes .

I have created a look using this palette (below) however I left it too late and could not find good enough lighting to show it up properly. I will therefore add another post using this palette when I have taken photos in daylight.

I used the gold shade over the lid with the bronze on the outer corner, I then used the deep purple shade through the crease and intensified this with MAC Nocturnelle. I used the purple shade on my bottom lash line and Avon Supershock gel liner on tightline and waterline. I applied gold glitter over the lid mixed with Illamasqua sealing gel to keep it in place and prevent fall out. Finally I lined the top lashline with Clinique brush on cream liner in black and finished with 2 coats of Maybellines The Falsies.

Overall Rating: 5/5 (I adore this palette)

Have you used Shu Uemura products?  What shall I try next?

Happy New Year Everybody,  I wish you love, luck and happiness for 2013 xxx

Elemis Majestic Beauty Set

So I decided last week I wanted to change up my skincare routine as I was looking pretty dull and had some stubborn patches of dry skin that wouldn't budge regardless of how much I exfoliated.

Whilst having a browse on asos the Elemis Magestic Beauty Set caught my eye. Being an Elemis virgin I thought this would be a great opportunity to try a range of their products.

The set contains:
Melting Cleansing Gel 125ml (Full Size)
Papaya Enzyme Peel 15ml
Cellular Recovery Skin Bliss Capsules x 14
Pro-Collagen Marine Cream 30ml
Pro-Radiance Hand and Nail Cream 100ml (Full Size)
It is presented beautifully in a purple, velvety zip bag.

Clearly this is not a review of the set as I haven't been using the products for long enough to provide an accurate analysis; however I really wanted to share my first impressions of two products from the set.
I will give a full review when I feel I know all the products well enough to judge.

Papaya Enzyme Peel:

Like I said earlier my skin has been looking pretty dull with stubborn dry skin patches. I also have psoriasis and fairly sensitive skin. I had been wanting to try an enzyme peel for a while but thought it best to speak to my dermatologist first. She gave me the go ahead and I had this particular product in mind. 
This is the product that sold me the set and although I have only used this twice I am not disappointed. I can already see a significant difference.
My skin looks a lot brighter, fresher and the dry skin patches are no more. 
My skin feels so smooth and soft to the touch however admittedly this could also be down to any of the contents of the set.
The product itself is a cream consistency. It spreads evenly and a 50p sized amount is ample to cover the whole face.
I was expecting it to feel uncomfortable whilst it was working but actually its very gentle and all I felt was a few tingles/tickles. Containing both Papaya and Pineapple enzymes the scent is uplifting, fresh and not at all overpowering. 
After 15mins on the face it is easy to remove with a damp washcloth and I saw instant results.
Overall I am really enjoying this product and if I had to pick a fault the only thing I can say is that I would have liked a slightly larger size tube. I'd have preferred to have a slightly smaller cleanser and hand cream and more of this.


ProRadiance Hand and Nail Cream:

Firstly lets address the name, I personally don't know anybody with 'radiant hands', have you ever complimented somebody with "wow! Your hands are glowing" I'm thinking no!
Apart from nit picking about the name the product itself is really rather lovely. The scent is delicate and pleasant and the consistency of the cream is perfect, not too thin were it drips whilst applying or too thick that it takes a decade to absorb. It absorbs into the skin quickly and leaves skin looking plumper and feeling softer and moisturised.
Being a mum of a toddler I have my hands in water a lot (no time for marigolds with a toddler) because of this they're often dry and can be irritating therefore a hand cream is a necessity for me. This little beauty has replaced my longtime favourite Soap & Glory - Hand food already.

Overall I'm really enjoying all the products in this set and will give a full review when I feel I can.

Have you tried any or all of these products? If so how were they for you? 

Lots of Love

Julie xxx

Photo Source Google Images, note: I'm having problems uploading my photos the hubby is fixing the issue and I will edit the post once I have them.

Letter to the Big Man

Dear Father Christmas,

I have been a very good girl this year. As a reward I would love to find some of the following items in my stocking pretty please with sugar on top.

1. Valentina Eau de Parfum 50ml

2. Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector, Topaz

My skin is so dry at the moment I really need some luminosity. 

3. Elemis Papaya Enzyme Peel

Ive never tried an enzyme peel as I have psoriasis and very sensitive skin, I asked my dermatologist if this would cause me problems but she gave me the ok to try it.

4. Smoked Palette, Urban Decay

The last thing I need is another eyeshadow pallette but that doesnt stop me from wanting one.

5. Vintage Classic Chanel Bag

Well! A girl can dream!

Lots of love,


Julie-Ann, Aged 26 and 1/2 X



What's on your Christmas list this year?


Images: Google Images

Where Ive Been

Hiya Everyone,

Im sorry ive been away for such a long time, I have had computer problems as well as being ill. 
Ive just got back from my hospital appointment and am hoping my new medication will work for me and have me on the mend ASAP.
I have had to stop working for a while due to my illness and my daughter is starting nursery for a few days a week soon Im going to have more time to myself and hopefully will start feeling better so I can get back to blogging especially as I had such a false start last time.
Thank you so much for reading and following even though ive not updated for a long time, and all your lovely comments which I just love to read and respond to.
My followers are creeping up towards the 100 mark and to show my appreciation I will be holding a giveaway when it does. I would like to do something different so would appreciate any ideas you have in the comments below.

Again thank you so much, you're all dolls xxxxxxxxxxx

Dramatic Blue Smokey Eye

I acheived this look using the Sleek idivine Sparkle Palette. As you will already know I absolutely love these palettes, I have them all and buy every new one as soon as it comes out.
I have used the two blue shades in the palette on my lid lightest all over lid darker at outside corner and the silver in the tearduct. I lined under the bottom lashline with Barry M black Glitter Eye Crayon and mirrored what I did on the top.
Note: When using these palettes for dramatic looks do base afterwards!

Hasta Luego xxx

Favourite Nail Polishes at the Moment

I am absolutely loving these at the moment, they are both from the Nicole by O.P.I range Kardashian Kolors.
They don't seem to be showing up very well with my camera but i'm sure there's hundred of pics online already. They all have the usual O.P.I cute names incorporating the Kardashian girls names. Both of my faves are the Kylie Jenner named polishes.
In the UK they're available from http://www.lenawhite.co.uk/store/nicole-by-opi, in the states at Walmart and Ulta not sure of other worldwide stockists but that's what googles for right?

Read to bottom for tips on removing glitter polish.

Rainbow in the S-Kylie:

This is beautiful it has all different sizes and colours of glitter in it. Green, gold, silver and turquoise to pick out the most prominent. Best effect is acheived after two coats, I would recommend dabbing this onto nails rather than sweeping it in the usual way as it builds and shows up better.

Wear Something Spar-Kylie:

This is probably the best glitter polish i've ever used, its not your average glitter polish which is usually coloured nail polish with glitter in this is glitter polish, so much glitter in the polish there are no gaps between the particles. Its hard to explain sure you will understand my ramblings when you see the photos. This is so quick drying that the first nail is ready for a second coat by the time you've reached the last nail on that hand.

Tip For removing glitter nail polish; soak a cotton wool ball in nail polish remover and place over the nail, take tin foil/aluminium foil and wrap this around the cotton wool to keep on the nail. After five minutes remove the foil and cotton and voila. 

Dont forget to comment and follow, I will be uploading more makeup tutorials later today.

¡hasta luego! xxx

Sleek MakeUp idivine Acid Palette

I absolutely love sleek makeup I cannot rate it enough I have most of the palettes and will be using them to create some looks this week.

This Look has been created with the idivine Acid palette here's a pic for those of you that haven't seen it before:

These neon brights come out the same colour on your skin as they are in the palette. I find all sleek eyeshadow to be great quality and highly pigmented so there can be a bit of fall out but for approx £6 for 12 great quality eyeshadows I can live with it.

Pink and Purple Leopard Print:

I began by colouring the lid in with a chunky purple eyeshadow pencil and taking it up in a flick towards the brow, any purple pencil will do but try not to go too much darker than the purple eyeshadow. 

Then taking the purple from the palette and a flat eyeshadow brush pat (don't sweep) the eyeshadow all over the shape you made with the pencil, don't blend this is a dramatic look it doesn't need it.

Next take any white eye pencil and make rough circles on top of the purple shadow where you want the spots to be, keep these relatively small and spaced out as you will need to be able to outline them.

Once happy with the placement of the spots take a pencil brush and the pink shade from the palette, pat this over the top of the white pencil marks until there is no white showing through.

Take a black liquid or gel liner and draw rough 'C' shapes around the spots, do not draw a ring around the whole spot go halfway round some 3/4 of the way around others and change the direction you draw them in i.e some this way ( and some this way ). Finally using the liner place a few black dots randomly in the empty spaces.

Using a black eye pencil line your upper and lower waterline. Take a black gel liner and line the perimeter of the eye extending the flick along upto where your purple flick ends. Bring the liner down in the inside corner/tearduct to create a V shape.

Curl lashes and apply mascara.

Hope you like it please comment and subscribe.

I will be adding more looks over the next few days using the other idivines I absolutely adore them!

¡hasta luego! xxx

First of my Favorite Palettes - Urban Decay NAKED

So everyone knows about the NAKED palette it needs no intro and must have a billion reviews online. Here's a few of my favourite looks using it. The pictures are not the best quality I will be looking into how I can improve the images but ive not got the first idea how to edit. Pics taken with a standard 15mp cyber shot im not the best photographer as you can see so will be asking somebody else to photograph next time.

This is my everyday look takes about 30 seconds no makeup makeup

I have applied UD Primer Potion all over the lid, then I took the shade Naked which is a matte shade and perfect match for my skintone and using a large fluffy brush applied this over my whole lid right up to the brow. 

I then took the shade Buck , also matte on a MAC 217 and using light pressure and small circle motions applied this to my crease and outer V. 

Next I took Virgin on a clean 217 and lightly dusted over my brow for a slight highlight. I took the same shade on a MAC 219 pencil brush and applied to my tearduct.

Finally curled my lashes and applied two coat of Illamasqua Masquara.

Sometimes for a bit more definition I will also take an angled liner brush and using the colour creep from the same palette I push the shadow into my top lash line then blend it out.

If I have a bit more time I will line my top lashline with Clinique Brush on Cream Liner in black winging it up towards the end of my brows.

My second look is much warmer and I've used two of my favourite shades Half Baked which also makes an appearance in the NAKED 2 palette.

Again I applied Primer Potion all over the lid and then with an Urban Decay flat shadow brush patted Half Baked from the inside corner halfway across my lid. 

Then using the same brush I took Smog and applied this to the rest of the eye blending into the half baked gently with an ELF Bamboo Blending Brush.

Using a Louise Young LY38 brush I took Dark Horse and applied to the crease of my eye blended, reapplied and blended again.

I then took the shade Hustle on my blending brush and buffed it into the crease for a bit more definition and warmth.

Finally I took Virgin on a 217 and lightly highlighted my brow bone.

I finished with curling my lashes and applying two coats of Masquara.

Here ive added to the look with a gold chunky liner pencil under the eye and the same shadows mirroring the top lid blended underneath the lashes.

To give it a more night out feel I've lined the top lashline with Clinique Brush on Cream Liner in Black. Lined the upper and lower waterlines with Avon Supershock Gel Liner in black and took gold glitter and pushed into the liner under the lower lashes.

(Why have I only got half an eyebrow on these pics???)

The Final look I've created with this palette is a basic Smokey Eye.

I applied Primer Potion and when dry with an UD shadow brush patted Gunmetal over the entire lid from the very inside corner. I then blended this out with a 217.

I then took Creep on the same shadow brush and patted this onto the outer third of the lid blending upwards and outwards towards the brow. 

On a 219 pencil brush I took Virgin and applied this liberally to the tear duct and inside corner, blended this into the Gunmetal and also upwards towards the brow. I also took this on a 217 and highlighted the brow.

I finished off with curling the lashes and applying two coats of Illamasqua Masquara.

For a more dramatic look I added Avon Supershock Gel Liner to the upper and lower waterlines and smudged Gunmetal under the lower lash line. 

Again I apologise for the quality of the photos and hope they're not too bad for you too see what I'm talking about.

I will be uploading more looks tomorrow I have created with more of my favourite palettes. I will be getting my Wayne (aka David Bailey) to take the photos. Some of these will be a little more  out there but that's where the fun is.

¡hasta luego! xxx

Very First Blog Post (eeeeeeek!!!)

So finally decided to create my own blog after being inspired by many fun, interesting and insightful blogs I subscribe to. Fingers crossed mine will have the same attributes I promise, cross my heart and hope to die I will try not to bore the life out of you and do all I can to be entertaining being I actually get a subscriber anyway lets leave it here hope you enjoy my upcoming posts ¡hasta luego! xxx