Gold Rush - Gold Eye Make Up Look

Ever wanted to play around with eyeshadow... But were always too scared to try new colours?
It's easy for us all to stick with our trusty nude shadows... But why not try a little twist without going too over the top?
This look is great all year round.... Especially with a tan and suits all eye colours.
To achieve this look I used my Urban Decay Naked 2 pallet. A pallet I could now not live without. In addition to the pallet I used a Mac pigment in Tan which is one of my favourites, a liquid eyeliner and lashings of mascara (false lashes optional)
Colours that I used from the pallet were;
Bootycall
Tease
Half Baked
Chopper
Blackout

Apply your eyeshadow primer all over your lid.
Use the Bootycall shade (the lightest one) to the brow bone and inner corner of your eye.
Use Tease (the matt brown shade) to contour your eye and create depth.
Apply Half Baked (golden shade) to the lid blending outward a from the inner corner. Also apply this shade to the lower lash line if you want a more dramatic look.
Use Chopper (copper shade) on the outer corner of the eye lid and blend up in to the crease.
I used the Tan, Mac pigment to strengthen the copper shade along the crease and on the outer corner of the lower lash line but its not essential.
Ensuring that all shades are blended together (apply more of the Tease shade if you wish and reapply the Bootycall shade if you feel you have lost some of the highlight)
Then using Blackout (matt black shade) blend on the outer corner and in to the crease.
Finish with a slick of black liquid eyeliner (I used Lancôme Artliner) and lashings of your favourite mascara.

(If you wish to create a more dramatic look like I have in my picture line your waterline with black kohl liner and apply false eyelashes)

For the rest of my face, I applied Benefit's Cha Cha Tint to my cheeks and a Revlon lipgloss in Coral Reef.

Enjoy recreating!

Rhian Xx

Eyebrows Eyebrows Eyebrows!!

Definition: The eyebrow is an area of thick, delicate hairs above the eye that follows the shape of the lower margin of the brow ridges of some mammals. Their main function is to prevent sweat, water, and other debris from falling down into the eye socket, but they are also important to human communication and facial expression.

Many makeup artists view eyebrows as a major feature in defining the face.

*****

A MAJOR FEATURE IN DEFINING THE FACE.

Never mind the Science bit, the above is what we all need to remember...

Now it's difficult to decide on what eyebrow shape is best for you, it could be down to face shape or personal preference and no two people's eye brows will ever be the same.

So do you go for a thin brow... Being cautious of not over plucking and ending up with two little caterpillars on your forehead.
Or possibly a fuller thicker brow... Maybe even an arch brow. Always remembering that the start of your brow should be inline with the outermost part of your nose.

Whatever your preference there is one item in my make up bag that I cannot live without....

My Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake...

It's taken me a while and a number of products to get through but I think I've finally found THE ONE.

I'll take you through my eyebrow history.... I have the fairest brows in the land... And my chequered eye brow product history started at the Rimmel Counter in my local Tesco where I purchased a Rimmel Professional EyebrowPencil (£2.99)
Now... At £2.99 this little thing is a bargain for anyone who is first starting out with enhancing their brows. I was happy with this product but felt I should maybe go up on the price scale to achieve a better result (not always the best move I might add) So next was the Clarins Eyebrow pencil (£16.00) I wasn't dissatisfied with the product but was the extra £13.01 justified? No.. Not at all. My main criticism with eyebrow pencils in general is that they don't last very long. Every time you sharpen it gets more and more depressing as the pencil gets shorter and shorter. It was from this that I decided I needed a different approach.
The Benefit counter was my next stop and here was a product which included two brushes (a blending brush and an angled brush) plus a small tweezers in a lovely compact case with a mirror... Yep! You've guessed it my next purchase was Brow Zings. I loved this product... I raved about it. However as with most Benefit products it carries a hefty price tag of £22.50. Now this as an initial purchase its fine because it comes with all the tools you need to get started, but once you have all of this the £22.50 price isn't really justified as you are really only paying the additional money for the tools you get.
I needed something new!
Now the beautiful assistant that helped me on the Benefit counter previously had moved to a different make up counter I'm my nearby Debenhams... Illamasqua. From this point on, the product I purchased that day was to become the single most important part of my make up bag.
I purchased Illamasqua Eye Brow Cake in Thunder (Dark Brown) The beautiful assistant advised me that this product could be applied wet or dry and I was pleased with the result. It retails for £14.50 so was much cheaper than the Benefit alternative and also cheaper than the Clarins pencil. Not only is the finish of this product amazing, but it lasts as long as you want it to. I've even been swimming with it on and it's hardly budged. (you have the option of purchasing a sealing gel to guarantee they don't budge too.
I've had this product for well over 18 months and it looks as though I've barely used it despite me using it every day.
The Eye Brow cake comes in 6 different colours so covers every shade possible.
Originally for application I continued using the brushes I had with my Benefit kit, but about 4 months ago I invested in a new brush that Illamasqua released which is a angled brush, perfect for both brows and gel liner. The brush retails for £18.50 but is well worth the investment as you will have it forever.

To this day there is only one other person that I trust enough to do my eyebrows and that person it the beautiful assistant that helped me out. @illamasquacharl (twitter)

Now I know what your thinking.... Wouldn't it be easier if I just tinted my brows and save the fuss of applying this everyday? But the results are not the same. I've tried it. They are not as defined without it, and it completely transforms my face especially when wearing heavy eye make up.

I guess the next step would be some permanent brows but I'm not yet 100% committed to a shape so for the time being I will stick with my trusty Eye Brow Cake and will continue to recommend it to every person which compliments me on my brows.

Rhian Xx

For more details of colours available check out: http://www.illamasqua.com/shop/products/eyes/eye-brows/

Lauren's Way Glam Tan and Body Polish!

Tan Tan and more Tan! We can't get enough these days... You'd need all your fingers and your toes plus those of your friends to name every brand which offers a self tan. But I want to talk to you about one of the latest tanning products to hit the market.. and this one has a touch of ESSEX about it as it was created by Lauren Goodger.
I received a number of different tanning products to talk about from Eskimo
PR, but I am first going to talk to you about "Glam Tan" and the Body Polish.

Glam Tan... Well the name says it all really.
This tan promises the "Ultimate Glamorous Essex Look" and it doesn't fail to deliver.
In fact in all honesty this product is bloody fantastic. I love it!
The product is in a spray bottle and is instructed to be best applied with a tanning mitt (Lauren's Way offers one of these also for £3.99) after exfoliating with the Body Polish.
The colour is intense (as you would expect from an Essex tan) but it glides on the skin and a little goes a long way. It blends easily and the finish is great. The colour when first applied is a little dark for me, but not orange by any means. After a shower and a buff with the Body Polish the colour is perfect and odourless.
The product also dries super quick so is a perfect product if you are in a rush and you want a little extra colour (we all feel better with a tan)
For those people who hate applying tan, due to streaks or patches this product is almost fool proof. You can see exactly where it has been applied and if you make a mistake it can easily be blended.

Since receiving this product I have used it on several occasions and it lasts really well. If you use the Body Polish when showering the tan wears evenly so you can have a healthy glow for days without any patches.

Lauren's Way Glam Tan retails for £18.95 for 250ml but you will not be disappointed by the finish.

*****

I've already talked a little about the Body Polish which is the perfect accompaniment to the Glam Tan.... But here is a little more detail.
Firstly it smells delicious without being over powering, and I've even taken to using it when I'm not applying tan because its a great exfoliator and helps remove dead skin cells.
I would say this is essential of you are thinking of purchasing the Glam Tan as they work well together.

The Body Polish retails for £11.95 for 250ml.

The packaging also has a very professional salon look to it, which allows the product to sit in the market place that its aimed at without being deemed quirky or naff and separates itself from the other TOWIE products in the market.

Both great products and come with the coveted Rhian seal of approval ;-)

Rhian Xx

Products available from http://www.laurensway.com/

*PR samples*

Mac Blue Brown Pigment

For this blog post I'm gonna take you back... Old School... Well... Not really, but I am going to talk to you about the first pigment I ever bought.
For those who have read previous posts, I've mentioned a number of times how I like the look and finish that you get from a pigment as opposed to just an eyeshadow. (mainly because I like to have strong eye make up and pigments really POP on the lid)
So the first pigment I ever purchased, many years ago now was Mac's Blue Brown pigment. A pigment which I've recently fallen back in love with! Granted its not an every day kind of shade but it is a beauty none the less! The pigment also has a reddish tint to it which is perfect particularly if you have green eyes like me :-)
I have swatches the shade below so you can see it alone and also when applied on top of a black base (I used Illamasqua Entangle cream eyeshadow, but you could use a Mac paint pot or just a basic kohl liner) the other swatch is when I have added Mac's Reflex Transparent Teal pigment on top for extra sparkles! (L-R)
I think you will agree its a great shade and the two tone makes it different to other pigments out there (although Illamasqua do a similar one)
I have used the pigment all over the base of my eye in the picture below but if you aren't bold enough a little of this shade in the outer corners and crease will look fab!
I have blended the shade with Mac's Embark eyeshadow which is a matt reddish brown shade and highlighted using Mac's All That Glitters on the brow bone and inner corner.
Finished with a little black eyeshadow in the outer corners and a gel liner along the lash line (top and bottom)

The pigment like all Mac pigments will last you all day or night provided you use a primer first.

Hope you like!!
Rhian Xx

Spice It Up - Jessica Nail Polish Collection

I only have a little experience with Jessica polishes, I have two in my current collection. One being Witchy Wisteria (a purple shade with a hint of sparkle)and Juicy Melon (a peachy coral)
I purchase all of my Jessica polishes from The Vale Hotel Spa, and when I first heard about this collection I was keen to see if the items were in stock. In all honesty it was difficult to pick which colour to havens they were all so beautiful.
In the end after much deliberation I opted for Cinnamon Kiss.
The coverage of all Jessica nail polishes is great and if in a hurry one coat will see you through an evening but as with most polishes two coats is always the best option.
The range consists of 6 shades.
Cinnamon Kiss
Pumpkin Delight
Crimson Tattoo
Ginger Snap
Champagne Bubbles
Brown Sugar
All polishes retail for £9.75

Cinnamon Kiss was the shade I opted for on Christmas Day with a glitter accent nail. Perfect for the festive period and glamorous enough to carry through all year round too.

Why not check out the website an pick your perfect Spice it Up shade.

http://www.jessica-nails.co.uk/

Rhian Xx

Party Make Up

My previous post featured an Inglot Body Sparkle, so I have decided to use this product to create a look perfect for the party season.

Main products that I have used for this look are;
Gel Liner
Kohl Liner
Smokey Shade Eyeshadows
Inglot Body Sparkles #59
Black Mascara
Eyelure false lashes in London Calling
Eye Brow Cake in Thunder by Illamasqua
Eyeshadow Primer

To create the look I applied my foundation base to the eye area ( due to using a loose product I would advise you to apply the rest of your make up afterwards ) then applied an eyeshadow primer (I used Urban Decay's Primer Potion)

You can use any grey/black smokey eyeshadow combination for this look as this only provides the base and you will be covering the majority of it with some wonderful sparkly pigment soon enough. If you aren't sure on how to apply smokey shadows, the way most sets are designed is a mix of three shades, light, medium and dark.... Apply the lighter shade to the inner corner and brow bone, the medium shade to the remainder of the lid and the dark shade to the outer corner and in the crease. 

Once the smokey shadow is applied you can start applying the Inglot body sparkle to your eye. Place from the inner corner outwards... Pressing the loose product in to the lid to make sure it sticks (you can reapply some primer to be extra sure the product sticks or use an eyeshadow glue or cream shadow of a similar shade) Take this shade 3/4's long the lid leaving the outer corner. (For extra sparkle apply to the inner corner of the lower lash line)

On the outer corner of the eye apply a black shade at an angle and blend outwards. (To intensify this look I used a black cream shadow and some black pigment but this is not necessary) take the black shadow to the lower lash line also.

You are now ready to apply your eyeliner, I used a gel liner on my upper lash line and a kohl liner for my waterline. 

Apply lashings of mascara and false lashes if you want an extra dramatic look.

To finish the look I applied Illamasqua Eyebrow Cake to my brows.... Whenever applying a heavy, dramatic eye look such as this I would always recommend added shading to your brows, whether it be a gel powder or pencil you will be surprised how much of a difference it makes to your face. I could not live without mine.

Why not combine with a nude lip? Or if you are feeling extra bold a bright pink or red? 

Have fun trying this look out..... Party hard!

Rhian Xx

Inglot Body Sparkles #59

I love eyeshadow.... But my favourite kind of finish is a loose pigment. Pigments are perfect for extra sparkle on a night out. My collection of pigments has grown dramatically in the last two years, starting off with a number of Mac shades and then being introduced to Illamasqua pure pigments which has now resulted in me owning 8 Illamasqua and 7 Mac pigments... There are also few Barry M Dazzle Dusts in my collection. This pigment however is a little different....
Not labelled as a pigment but a Body Sparkle... The Inglot #59 shade is the most beautiful irredescent sparkle shade.
It's a messy product to deal with, as is any glitter (remember playing with glitter as a child? Gets everywhere!) Due to its denser consistency it also requires a little more to stick to than usual pigments. Eye primer is essential when using any pigment, but this product sticks better with a glitter glue for eyes or a cream similar coloured eyeshadow.
I applied the glitter using a wet brush, to make sure I didn't make too much of a mess. You will undoubtedly get fall out when using a product like this so I always apply my eye make up first and the rest of my make up afterwards.
The product catches the light beautifully and you will without doubt be the centre of attention on a night out when using this little pot of wonderful!


Inglot Body Sparkle retails for £12

Rhian Xx

Max Factor All Day Flawless 3in1 Foundation

A primer, concealer and foundation all in one bottle would be the answer to every womans prayers. Well ladies, here it is!!
Max Factor has created a foundation that claims to do all of the above... And for the retail price of £12 it appears to be a bargain - But does it actually work?
This foundation first caught my eye while I was merrily browsing the make up section in My local Tesco.... I am normally very strict with the make up I buy and foundation inparticular. I would rarely stray away from my trusted Mac Studio Fix or Illamasqua Skin Base, but the draw of 3 products in 1 was too good to pass up, so I happily headed to the checkout.
I tried the foundation out the very next day, and was very happy with the coverage that it provided (something I m always very conscious about) It leaves a matt effect on the skin, and is great on its own without the need for powder foundation.
I'm not one for reapplying my make up... Except my lipgloss and the occassional touch of powder foundation throughout the day. And in fact this product didn't even require a touch up, my skin stayed matt throughout the day and lasted well too.
I am very happy with the product and would definitely invest in it for the future, as it's perfect for work and I can keep my Illamasqua for special occasions.

It comes in 6 different shades and I opted for 50-Natural

The Max Factor 3in1 foundation comes with the Rhian seal of approval and I would definitely recommend it. It's nice to use a product which delivers on its promises.

Rhian Xx

Foundation results! Perfect Finish

Barry M Gelly Hi Shine Nail Paint

I picked this nail paint when in Gatwick Airport awaiting a flight to Verona... It wasn't that a needed a new purple polish but I was drawn in my the promise of the hi shine finish.
The colour I opted for was Blackberry, a shade perfect for Autumn/Winter.
When in a rush, one coat of this polish would be enough. It has exceptional coverage, but I opted for two coats for a better finish. I also decided not to apply a top coat and if I'm honest it wasn't needed anyway.
It is usual routine for me to paint my nails on a Sunday and then repaint them on a Wednesday, but with this polish I didn't have to. By Wednesday there was not a chip in sight and even by Friday there was very little to warrant a change in polish. This is excellent considering I use a keyboard everyday.
This collection comes in 9 different shades and retails for £3.99 which is excellent value for money.

Rhian Xx

*picture of nails when first painted and then on Friday after 6 days wear.

Lauren's Way False Lashes

It's generally inevitable, once someone becomes famous from a reality tv series, a barrage of merchandise is soon to follow. We have all seen or at the very least heard of The Only Way Is Essex, and would have also been subjected to the numerous catch phrases from the show...
What I have in my possession thanks to the very lovely people at Eskimo PR are samples of Lauren Goodger's new range of beauty products. The range has a broad spectrum including everything from varying types of tan (obviously) false lashes, and also sleep in rollers. I am going to break down the products I have in to different categories to allow each range to be reviewed as in depth as possible.
So I am starting with the Lashes!

Over the last few years, false lashes have been a must have for every girl and with varying levels of quality and price point the market place is flooded with options. I am personally a false lash wearer but only on a night out and generally my lash of choice would be Illamasqua number 14 lashes, these lashes retail for around £12. I would hazard a guess that Eylure pretty much cleans up the middle market of lashes, due to them being widely available in supermarkets and stores such as Boots and Superdrug, aided also by endorsements such as Girls Aloud and more recently Katy Perry.
Lauren's lashes retail for £6.95 which puts them in to the same price category as Eylure, however the glue for the lashes is sold separately. (This however is a benefit as it generally means you get a better quality glue which lasts longer)
The packaging is strong and the lashes can be stored for repeat use in the handy plastic case that the lashes are supplied in.
I was given two different styles of lashes, one a shorter fuller lash ( Luxury Lashes ) and the other a whispier finer lash but with extra long length. The packaging has gery brief application instructions which isn't great if you are a beginner but a web address is provided for tips www.laurensway.com.

The first lashes I decided to apply were the luxury lashes, this style of lash is not really my preference in terms of style and is a little heavy, but if that's the look you want to achieve then I'm sure these will be ideal. They did need a little trim to make them suitable for my eyes, and due to the fullness off these lashes it was a little difficult to differentiate which eye was which.
The second style of lash is more suitable to my tastes, and I feel even though they are dramatic and longer in length they aren't as dense which gives a more natural appearance along the lash line.
I can see this style of lash being the more commercial of the two.

The lashes were easy to apply, but it is vital to leave the glue for at least 30 seconds to allow for it to get tacky before you attempt the application.

It have to say that for a "celebrity" product I am impressed, clearly a lot of thought has gone in to the product and the quality of the product is great. (Made in the UK) As mentioned earlier the packaging is strong and the lashes can be worn on more than one occasion, as the strip where the glue is applied is thicker than most which is a definite plus point.

I have to say a well done to Lauren for developing a high quality product rather than just using her name for branding. In all honesty Lauren's name wouldn't incentivise me to buy this product in any way but I'm sure for die hard TOWIE fans it would be the initial reason for purchasing.
Now that I know the quality of the product I would definitely recommend these lashes and will be using them in the future I'm sure.

What are your thoughts on the lashes? Which style would you pick?

Rhian Xx

*PR Samples*

Eylure Fine to Full Individual Lashes.

Individual Lashes... The mere thought of applying them has always made me shudder...
Tiny individual fiddly lashes surely must be a nightmare to apply? Well. That's the preconception I had before trying the new Eylure Fine to Full Individual Lashes.
The Product
These new eyelashes give the end user the option of light natural lashes graduated to fuller more dramatic ones... As well as the usual: short, medium, long length to suit the usual shape of your lashes.
This in fact is a great idea as sometimes with strip lashes the inner eye can appear a little on the heavy side.
The Application
The part I was dreading the most, but the instructions were clear and concise and the only additional tools needed were; kitchen foil - to place the adhesive on and of course - tweezers. Tools that every house hold should have.
Upon applying the lashes I found application quite simple and straight forward, however people I have spoken to since have explained to me how they have never been able to get along with individual lashes - maybe it was just beginners luck for me but full application to both eyes took around 15 minutes.
The Results
Well... I was very impressed.. I naturally have very fair lashes and the application of these hid that completely and no mascara was required on my upper lashes at all. The look was completely natural and I think aided by the additional feature on these lashes of fine to full as it allows the end user to customise their own look.
The Next Day
As the lashes are semi permanent I slept in them, and awoke to find them in place all bar a few inner lashes on my left eye which I promptly replaced with a selection that I had remaining (you get plenty of lashes to choose from) And additionally the lashes with stood the test of me applying contact lenses so brownie points for that too. The response from work colleagues was very positive and at a price of £4.95 they were definitely impressed with the results.
I am sure the lashes would have stayed on for at least a couple more days but I decided to remove them the same night using the "Lift Off" lash remover which was provided. Again following the instructions I promptly took a cotton pad and bud and removed the lashes. WARNING do not get this stuff in your eye like I did... You will never know pain like it! Ouch! The lashes removed easily with little fuss (besides the ungodly stinging) and did not damage my own lashes.
SUMMARY
Would I purchase this product for £5 - yes I definitely would. Great value for money considering the finish.
Would I recommend this product? Yes. But possibly not for someone totally new to applying lashes as it can be a little tricky and you need a steady hand.
Overall 8/10. Great Product.

Rhian Xx

OPI Skyfall Collection

I bloody well love James Bond... Not only have I spent the last few weeks watching old Bond films in the run up to the release of the latest instalment Skyfall. But I have been getting very excited over the new Bond inspired collection by OPI.
The collection cleverly takes inspiration from the last 50 years of Bond mania and has created an amazing range of nail polishes complementing each title.
Deciding which colours from the collection I wanted to purchase was a very difficult decision and after much deliberation I opted for Skyfall - a rich deep red, matt shade and the ever so slightly more dramatic The Living Daylights - which is almost a disco ball in a jar.
Skyfall - This has recently become my favourite nail polish... It's a great Autumn Winter shade, and is particularly great for a glamorous look. This shade and tone of the red is perfect and I'm a keen fan of a matt polish for simple elegance. The coverage and the longevity of the polish is everything you would expect from an OPI polish.
The Living Daylights - Well... This shade doesn't have the classic elegance that Skyfall does but it certainly has the "wow" factor. Unlike most glitter nail polishes this polish has multiple shades inside it. (Gold, Silver, Copper and Teal) I have found that this shade is best applied layered over other polishes rather than alone for an extra special effect, sure to make your friends notice your gorgeous talons. On the pictures below I have applied this polish to OPI's Black Cherry Chutney shade.

I originally only purchased those two polishes... But I wasn't satisfied so I opted for a little sample of a few shades and picked up the Bondette collection. A gift set comprising of 4 mini polishes.
• Goldeneye - a sparkly gold heavily pigmented shade perfect for the Christmas party season.
• The Spy Who Loved me - a bright red with subtle gold flecks.
• The World Is Not Enough - a sparkly pewter shade, with rose undertones which somehow manages to be both a perfect day time shade and a party worthy glam evening shade.
• Live and Let Die - This shade is described by OPI as "private jet black" but I feel it has a deep slightly darker hint of British Racing Green with gold flecks. Whatever colour it is, it's gorgeous!

Out of the 4 shades in this collection is difficult to pick a winner as they are all fabulous in their own right, but for people who aren't too bold with their nail polish choices The World Is Not Enough would be the perfect shade for you.

6 shades in and I still can't get enough of these delightful polishes. They are a definite must have, even if you aren't a Bond fan.

* OPI polishes are available nationwide for around £11 (15ml)
*The Bondette collection consists of 4 x 3.75ml polishes and retails for £12.

Do you own any polished from this collection? What's your favourite?

Rhian Xx

Basic Smokey Eye

Over recent years the smokey eye has become one of the most iconic make up looks.
I would normally go all out with eye shadows, pigments and liner for a smokey eye on myself but for the purpose of this blog post I've stripped it back to basics. Once you've mastered this you may feel more confident with shadows and blending techniques.

What will you need:
Eye primer
Black kohl pencil
A coloured eyeshadow of choice
A taupe shade eyeshadow for contouring the eye
A highlighting eyeshadow for use under the brow and inner corner of eye.
Mascara

So back to basics:
The first step as follows is to prime to eyelid ensuring your eyeshadow pops when it's applied and also providing a base to ensure your shadow lasts longer.
Apply the black kohl liner around the lash line and underneath. I would recommend a thinner line if you aren't too confident with applying it. You are going to be blending it out so more can be added at a later stage. DON'T be afraid to apply the liner to the bottom lash line for this look it's a necessity. (I used Smoulder by Mac)
Blend out the liner concentrating on the outer edge. Remember you are in control of how intense this look is and you can add as little or as much liner as you wish.
Now let's contour! This is something I've only started doing over the last few years but now I wouldn't apply any eye make up without it. Using a taupe/brown matt eyeshadow follow the brow bone above the lid and blend towards the brow but not too close as you will be placing your highlighting shadow there. This technique provides depth to your eye. (I used Tease by Urban Decay) **You can also use a matt bronzer if you don't have an eyeshadow this shade
Eyeshadow: this look works with any eyeshadow imaginable. I have used three different options to give you an idea of possibilities. 1) khaki green (I used Me Jane by Sephora) 2) dark matt brown (I used Embark by Mac) this look is perfect for day time and gives a great natural finish 3) dark grey (I used Shade 14-Pearl by MUA) apply the shadow just above the liner line and blend. Repeat on lower lash line. This will make your liner a little dull so repeat the liner line once the shadow is applied to intensify the look.
Use a highlighting shade next under the brow and in the inner corner of the eye (I used Bootycall by Urban Decay)
If you feel you want the look to be more intense add a black shadow to the outer corner of the eye.
Then depending on your preference you can either leave the look as is or apply the kohl liner to your waterline.
Apply mascara and you're done! (I used Max Factor 2000 calorie in Black)

For the perfect Autumn Winter 2012 look use a plum shade shadow for a very trend lead smokey eye.

Alternatively if you don't fancy adding the additional coloured shadow you can simply use the kohl combined with the contour and highlighted shades. Blend kohl as previously mentioned and why not team with an intense lipstick shade for a dramatic look.

I have posted some pictures below so you can see the different stages, some of the products I used and also the finished looks.

Have fun recreating!

Rhian Xx

Max Factor Eye Brightening Mascara

Another day... Another mascara is launched.

                                  
However this one has a slight twist.
The latest Max Factor mascara claims to have an eye brightening affect due to tonal particles which compliment your natural eye colour.

             
For the first time in a long while I was actually excited about a mascara.. I hunted down one for green eyes - which seemed to take me forever but nevertheless I finally found one..
Here's the results.
The mascara for green eyes is labelled Black Ruby and has a red/plum tone to it... Anyone that remembers the colour wheel from school will know that the complimentary colour for green is red so bravo Max Factor. 

                                

The application is great, no clumps and the finish is easily buildable.
But the burning question is: Do my eyes look any brighter?
Hmmmm I would love to say yes, but if I'm completely honest I couldn't tell the difference. I've posted a comparable picture below - I'd love for you to
comment if you feel the bottom eye looks brighter.. 

                                       

But like I said, the mascara itself isn't half bad. I'm normally a fan of a black mascara - the blacker the better. But this offers a more natural alternative so is great for daily wear but not one I'd grab for a night out. 

Max Factor Eye Brightening mascara is available for Brown, Blue and Green eyes and nationwide for around £7.99.

Rhian Xx

Glitter Ombré Nails

When my lovely friend Kirsty sent me a link on Facebook with a "How To" on ombré nails I was keen to try it out... But I wanted to take it one sparkly step further and try a glittery ombré nail. After all. Who doesn't like a little bling?
Not to be overly dramatic I opted for a neutral base to add the glitter on to, and for this is used Nails Inc. Porchester Square. Which is one of my favourite shades. Perfect for everyday and long wearing too. For the glitter effect I chose a Nails Inc polish again, and this time it was Burlington Square part of the "Nail Jewellery" collection. This polish is great as the flecks of glitter aren't uniform in shape like with most glitter polishes and this works particularly well for this look. (any glitter nail varnish can be used)
Anyway.... Now for the science bit. APPLICATION.
Here's a step by step guide, created especially for the lovely Rebecca @becliz_ (twitter)
1) apply a base coat to nails. Allow to dry.
2) apply two coats of the polish you wish to use as a base colour. Allow to dry.
3) apply glitter polish 3/4 of the way down the nail. Don't worry about how much is applied as the whole idea is to build up in density towards the nail tip.
4) starting a little further toward the tip add more layers of glitter polish. Repeat as desired.
5) the tip of your nail should have the most glitter on and you should have created a graduated glitter look on your nail.
6) apply top coat to entire nail.
7) make sure you leave sufficient time for the polish to dry due to the layers added to avoid smudging.
And....Voila!!
Perfect glittery ombré nails.

Have fun!
Rhian Xx