Effortless Beauty / Organise Your Makeup Bag!

Firstly I want to say this post has been inspired from watching, makeup guru Lisa Eldridge's Video Effortless Beauty -Make-Up Essentials. 
So full credit goes to Lisa for this great idea, I loved this idea so much I wanted to share it with you. Lisa talks about effortless beauty and being organised in the morning, having everything on hand to help quickly make yourself up. The key is *ORGANISATION*, it's almost like when you put out your work clothes the night before. How about selecting your makeup for the week on a Sunday. Going through your stash, swapping shades for ones which you want to try or use that week. Lisa mentions in the video about putting together your ideal 'capsule makeup collection'.

OK so brace yourself this was makeup bag contents, I think Lisa would have a fit if she saw the contents, many many duplicates!

 BEFORE...

 

 AFTER...

Lisa uses seven areas which help minimise and select the key makeup items you need for your bag, ideally you should only need 1-2 items from each section. I've selected a few more in certains sections, if you have a compact which does brows and eyes thats fab and you can cover two sections making your makeup bag even lighter! Plus there's lots of cream blushes which double up as lip products also making you cover two sections in one!

1. Base
2. Concealer
3. Eyes
4. Mascara
5. Face Colour
6. Lips
7. Tools.

SO using Lisa's method I was able to categorise and organise my makeup, these are the makeup items which I now have in my makeup bag. Another little tip would be watch the size of your makeup bag, the bigger the size the more likely you feel the need to fill it, hence my first 2 photos! So I've now changed my makeup bag to a smaller more friendly sized one. Which doesn't resemble the contents of a kitchen cupboard once unzipped!

 

Kleenex Blotting Sheets / Dr.Jart+ BB / Witch Pressed Powder

Estee lauder Double Wear Concealer / Witch Blemish Concealer

New CID Cosmetics Quad Florence / UD Primer Potion

 

a la Carte brow Ink / No7 Brown/Black Brow Pencil

 

Mac Chromagraphic Pencil / NATorigin Grey / UD 24/7 Binge / GOSH Liquid Liner 008

 

Avon Super Curlacious Mascara Black

 

NARS Deep throat / Liz Earle Cream Blush Nectar / Liz Earle Bronzer

 

Boots No7 Nude Lip Pencil / Jelly Pong Pong Lip Frosting

 

Sigma Flat Top Retractable kabuki Brush

You need to have a little check once a week to make sure nothing else has creeped its way in. Plus check for any duplicates because they can build up and then your makeup bag can get messy and brushes get dirty so makeup sure you keep your compacts and brushes clean.

This has made such a difference for me in the morning, being organised saves time and helps you achieve the look you want without sifting through your makeup pile! I thoroughly recommend you watch Lisa Eldridge's Video!

Go on give it a go!

Sherrie xoxo

Naked for kids / Hair Review

Orange Lollies Untangle Me Spray* £2.99 / 200ml

Knee High De-Tangler Shampoo* £2.99 / 250ml

 

Bananas & Custard 2 in 1 Shampoo* £2.99 /250ml

Luscious Locks...

Having a very hectic 2 year old daughter is a recipe for tangled locks!

Luckily my 5yr old son has short hair and isn't so... hectic should I say. Maybe it's just girls? Anyway my daughter often has a mix of yoghurt, paint & Play-dough in hair on a daily basis. She has straight hair with curls at the end which often get knotty. After using the Knee-High De-Tangler Shampoo it's made a great difference when washing her hair, the special formulation really helps untangle knots. The scent is very mild and unscented, 97% natural and a special no-tears formula which is another thumbs up!

Only a daily basis I use the Untangle me Spray which works a treat when you just want to comb through some little tangles, or when you want to freshen them up. This is great to use on wet or dry hair, it smells of orange lollies and my daughter loves it!

The 2 in 1 shampoo scented just like bananas a& custard is a winner with my 5yr old son who hates having his hair washed! So using a 2 in 1 shampoo is a must for him, he enjoys the scent and thinks the banana on the bottle is so funny. The packaging for all the children's hair range is appealing and kid like making it friendly. The pricing is amazing, at first I did a double take because I couldn't believe how reasonable the prices where considering the fantastic quality.

I couldn't recommend the haircare range enough, they also have some body care products.

Available to purchase direct from www.nakedbodycare.co.uk

Have you tried the Naked for Kids Haircare Range?

Sherrie xoxo

Neom | Tranquillity Organic Bath Foam

 Neom Tranquillity Bath Foam* £20.00 / 200ml

Neom is one of my favourite brands when it comes to a little self indulgence and relaxing. Their candles are amazing, my favourite by far. The products are always packaged with such detail, when opening a product you feel a wave of excitement

Their newest product just launched just in time for those lovely warm evening bubble baths is Tranquillity Bath Foam. I love taking time out and there's nothing more relaxing than dipping your toes into a layer of bubbles! Just drift away from the day and let your body chill out. Soothing ingredients such as marshmallow, Aloe leaf, Coconut, Sweet Almond and pure-essential oils.

The scent Tranquillity contains English Lavender which is popular for relaxing, but they've given it a modern twist with special ingredients- sweet basil and jasmine. This is the perfect pre-bedtime scent. I'm not surprised it has won numerous awards because of the fantastic relaxing properties!

The bottle is made from glass and looks very decadent in the bathroom. My only word of advice would be to hide it from your 5 yr old and husband. Lock it away somewhere safe where only you know, so when you need that special 'me-time' you can treat yourself. You only need a capful to appreciate how luxurious this is,

Available to purchase online www.neomorganics.com

Will you be self indulging in this beautiful Organic Bath Foam?

Sherrie xoxo

Roger & Gallet | EAU des Bienfaits Fragrant Body Mist

 

Roger & Gallet Eau des bienfaits Body Mist* 100ml / £28.50 

A little while ago I kindly had the chance to try the very refreshing EAU des Bienfaits Body Mist by Roget & Gallet. The packaging is very pleasing on the eyes and certainly wakes them up, the same goes for the plethora of refreshing fragrance notes. A cocktail blend of natural ingredients and essential oils work together to uplift the mind and pamper the body. I've enoyed spritzing away towards the end of the Summer but not Autumn is here I've been relying on this body mist to get me going in the morning, it's great to use after a shower. The scent is a mix of vibrant citrus notes, Blood Orange, Mandarin, Bergamot and Lemon. Other notes such as Violet leaves and Orange Blossom followed by Patchuoli and Cedar.

As I mentioned before there is certainly a plethora of vibrant scents which make up such a bold and striking fragrance. The mist feels lovely when sprizted over bare skin, the ultra-light mist is non-oily and obsrobed easily and quickly into the skin not leaving any residue. just when you thought you had a cockatil of notes you're also envloped with aloe vera to hydrate and soften skin whilst kiwi extract helps with skins suppleness and then to top it all off Ginseng extract works to stimulate the skin whilst fruit acids gently improve the skin's surface.

I would say the closest product to this with similar properties and principles would be Clarins Eau Dynamisante.

You can purchase the Eau des Bienfaits Body Mist from Escentual.com

Do you need a wake up call in the morning? 

Sherrie xoxo

Illuminare / Mattifying Mineral foundation

 £21.95 / 15ml

I've been trying out a new foundation, one which is oil-free and contains a SPF20.Illuminare Mattifying Ultimate All Day Foundation* claims to last all day and help with excess oil.

I have the shade Florentine Fair which is the 2nd darkest and it suits me perfectly. The foundation is only 15ml because it's not meant I've caked on heavily, for best results you apply a small amount in the centre of your face and blend out evenly. It's very concentrated and absorbs oils making it transfer resistant and water resistant. It also has a built in primer for minimising shine and prolonging the wear time. The matte finish is great for combination/oily skin types like myself.
It does dry quick so you have to be quick when buffing and ending it out. It's great to use on the eye lids as a primer, especially if you suffer from oily eye lids and struggle to keep your eyeshadow/liner on all day.

I like to use it only on my T-Zone area and maybe along my jaw if I have any rouge blemishes. The coverage is great and because it's matte it's the perfect cover up for blemishes. My t-zone gets oilier as the day goes on and I often need to blot depending on what face products I have on and also the time of the month. Luckily whenever I've used this on my T-Zone I've gotten away without blotting which is a huge bonus. This would be great also to apply if you had a special event or occasion to attend.  There's another 2 shades to pick from a lighter and darker shade, Florentine is somewhere in between. Whilst I'm not overly bronzed I do have yellow undertones so I'm normally the second shade when it comes to foundations.

You can purchase the Illuminare range online from www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk 

Do you use 2 different foundations?

Sherrie xoxo

Clarins \ Autumn Picks!

 

Instant Smooth / Rouge Prodige (Spiced Orange) / 3-Dot Liner

Lingerie / Silver Green / Aubergine

Instant Smooth / Skin Illusion Foundation (sand) / Silver Green / Lingerie / 3-Dot Eyeliner

With Autumn firmly making it's presence I've been selecting my autumn shades which I love to wear. Khaki greens and berry shades are always at the top of list. The Clarins Autumn Makeup Collection has some real gems which are worth snapping up for this Autumn/Winter. They've launched a plethora of amazing NEW Mineral eyeshadows, meaning they can be worn dry or wet. The packaging is very chic and stylish, I love the traditional gold compact with the signature 'C' embossed on the side.

The new collection also sees 3 new shades of the Rouge Prodige Lipstick, I have the shade Spiced Orange which is a lovely warm autumnal shade. However I think the one product which looks very eye catching is the 3-Dot Eyeliner. I've never seen anything like this, at first I literally thought it was a dot-to-dot for silly people like me who can't apply top liner for toffees! It's actually designed to be applied inbetween lashes to give the illusion of a fuller lash...guess what? IT WORKS! Sometimes in the morning I haven't got time to faff about with top liner and making sure each side is even, but I do love the effect it can give to the eyes. Where as the 3-Dot eyeliner really gives that extra 'umpf' to your lashes. You can apply it as a normal straight eye liner with a steady hand and thankfully I can do this also, yay...pat on the back to me!

One product which has made a huge dent in my foundation routine is the Instant Smooth Perfecting Primer, the formulation is creamy and silky and smooth all together. For me this is the perfect primer, filling pores and fine lines making a space base for my foundation. I use the Clarins Illusion foundation over the top with my Sigma F80 brush, the combination of these 3 items leave my skin looking flawless. 

www.clarins.co.uk

Have you tried any of these Autumn picks?

Sherrie xoxo

Lush | Brilliance Emotion Collection

A while ago I was kindly sent some of the LUSH Brilliance collection to play around with. I was immediately drawn in by the quirky very 'Lush-seque' packaging. I must admit I never thought Lush would launch their very own makeup collection, but now it's here it feels like it's always been here if that makes sense. Whilst the vibrant shades stand out the packaging fits perfectly in. You can take your pick from Eyeliners, Liquid Lipsticks, Liquid Eyeshadows, Mascara and Face makeup. All the shades match emotions and when you visit your local counter you will see a huge wheel which you can spin and select the 3 colours which most sum up your feelings and emotions.

 

 

 

Quietly Motivated is described as a bronzed Chocolate Brown, the formulation is the same as the liquid eyeshadows. Very pigmented and easy to apply. I've actually used this as a shadow rather than an eyeliner. It's lovely warm shade which I would wear all over the lid, it also works as a great base for a dark brown shade or a smokey eye look. £14.50 / 5g

Fantasy is described as Liquid Gold, this is a wearable eyeliner shade and looks amazing with a bronzed face and blue soft eyes!  The applicator is fine and it applies easily, the formulation is quite thick but it's very pigmented.  £14.50 / 5g 

Vibrance is described as a Shimmering Golden Orange, this is a liquid lipstick. It's not a shade I would wear. It contains small golden shimmering particles which I imagine would look lovely over the top of an orange/coral shade lipstick in the summer if you have a lovely tan. £14.50 / 5g

Happiness is described as a Sunset Copper, this isn't a shade I would wear but if you love metallics this may well be appealing to you. I do think this shade would look gorgeous on blue eyes! The sponge tip applicator makes application a breeze and the pigmentation is amazing! £14.50 / 5g

 

Quietly Motivated / Fantasy / Vibrance / Happiness

www.lush.co.uk

Overall I love the packaging and love the names and the ethos behind the colours and emotions but for me I think the price is a little high. However if you're after vegan free and natural makeup this collection would be perfect for you!

Have you tried any of the Lush Brilliance Collection?

Sherrie xoxo

Clinique / Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector

 £28.00 / 10ml

I've been using a new product recently launched by Clinique,  Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector*. Firsty what a mouth full, ha ha! There's not many eye products claiming to reduce or minimise the look of dark circles. But I can start to see a difference, I think it's down to the peachy tinted formulation which makes an immediate difference. I love the wide cooling massage tip which feels amazingly refreshing in the morning! It certainly gives you a nice wake up feel, especially with the colder mornings creeping in slowly.

The gentle formula has the power to lighten the entire eye area, a big credit goes to the persistence of the Clinique Laboratories. The results are clinically proven to visibly reduce dark circles by 30% in 12 weeks. Key Ingredients : Vitamin C and Mulberry Root are very gentle but effective in helping to reduce darkness. You can see how much I've been using this because on the first photo you may notice part of the print is coming away! if you suffer from dark circles I would thoroughly recommend you pop to your local Clinique counter and have a look for yourself.

 Have you tried or do you fancy trying Even Better Eyes Dark Circle Corrector?

Sherrie xoxo

Floral Fun & A Staple Gun...

Ha ha! I had to laugh at the title choice, get catchy don't you think? Since being totally smitten with Shabby Chic, country SDtyle decor I decided it was about time I upholstered my very shabby dining room chairs. They where the least bit chic but very shabby as you can see below! Thankfully after some purchasing and some stapling I soon turned them into shabby chic chairs. I didn't use my camera to take the photos so I apologise for the quality I didn't have any intentions on blogging about them but have changed my mind and wanted to show you how easy it is to transform your funrniture for very little.

I borrowed my Grans staple gun and staples, I think these are relatively inexpensive to pick up. Just make sure you have enough staples and you have the right size for the staple gun!

 

After measuring up the seats themselves I searched for the perfect fabric to cover them, once I saw this beautiful pattern I knew this would be the perfect material. So... one and half metres later I was good to go. You do need a stronger cotton/fabric if you're using it for seat covers etc, this particular fabric is nice and thick and wide making it perfect for curtains and soft home furnishings.

 

After unscrewing the seats I then placed them out where I wanted to cut the fabric, because I picked a fabric which had a pattern I knew they wouldn't all be exactly the same which was fine but I knew I wanted the main big cluster of roses on the seat some where. Luckily I had just the right amount of fabric to play around with. If you opt for a pattern just me cautious you many want an extra half a metre to play around with. 

 

 

I didn't paint them, the photo on the left was taken during the day where as the photo on the right was taken in the evening with the ceiling light on. 

I hope you enjoyed this post, if you would like to see more posts like this please let me know!

Sherrie xoxo