August - The Best and The Worst

Aha! Could this be the first time I'm actually ON TIME doing one of these favourites? Possibly, quite possibly.

Let's kick off with Urban Decay's Naked Palette

 

 

Urban Decay Naked Palette

Have I ever been more in love with a palette than this?  No.  Not ever.  I am truly obsessed with this and I don't know whether it's the packaging or the shadows but there is definitely something about it that just makes me drool.  The quality is everything you could wish for and it's surely become my go-to as well as one of my top favourite palettes EVER.  Click here for a closer look!

 

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara

Apologies for having not posted my review on this yet!  But I'm sure a lot of you have been there and done that.  It's surely also become one of my go-to mascaras and I love it as much as the L'Oreal Lash Architect or even the Eyeko Mascara.  It gives great length and really helps define my lashes; the best part is that it doesn't transfer or smudge.  A definite win.

 

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Mascara Primer

I've been wanting to talk about this for a while but it seems that it's been disappearing off of shelves in the UK?  Or is that just me?  Perhaps it's being discontinued but I find that this really pushes my mascara application that one bit further and with this my lashes always look fuller.  I like this over the L'Oreal Lash Extension Primer a lot more.  Has anyone tried this?

MAC Lipstick in Dressmaker

This was passed on from a friend because she thought I would like it more than she did, and boy, was she right!  This is another one of those peachy orange colours and you all know that one of my all time favourite lip colours is MAC's Ravishing which is comparable to Dressmaker.  I think Dressmaker is definitely more wearable than Ravishing because it has more of a nude peachy cool tone to it where as Ravishing is a soft yet warm orange with a pink-ish tone.  If you're unsure of what Ravishing looks like it's very comparable to Revlon's Colorburst Lipstick in Peach.

 

L'Oreal Studio Secrets Anti-Redness Primer

I tend to go on and off with this product but since my skin has started losing it's tan, I've noticed this really helps out my red patches on my face.  What I've come to like doing is taking a very small amount and applying it to my entire face; it seems to even out the skin well and although it makes me a bit pale, it gives a good base for an even foundation application.  I prefer this over the No.7 version.

 

Bio-Oil

I've been using this for such a long time now and you might remember when I did that Clinique 3-Step trial and how I felt like my skin was drying up like the desert!  Well I was so relieved to be able to go back to my normal skincare routine and I feel like Bio-Oil is a vital component of it and it's become one of my holy grail night moisturisers.  I feel like my skin condition has improved a lot using this and while I haven't noticed it fading much of my scars, it's made my skin less botchy and irritated and so there is a lot less scratching and bumps on my face.  Why do I have a feeling this bad boy is going to feature in a lot of the favourites to come?

BarryM Nail Paint Limited Edition 030

It's become an unwritten rule that I never wear the same colour twice consecutively.  That changed when this beautiful nail paint arrived in store.
I've heard it being said and I'm so glad I'm not the only one who thinks this.  You look at this colour and you think it's nothing special; you might even think you have this colour already.  However when applied to the nails it's a completely different story.  The colour is so likable that I think it's become one of my favourites!  An absolute gem and a colour any girl could pull off!

 

And that is it!  I couldn't find anything I particularly disliked so I shall relieve you of this post.

Thank you for reading!

Have you tried any of my favourites?

Peace,

Cherry xxx

Eyeko Punk and Chi Chi Polish

{Left] Eyeko Punk Polish, [Right] Eyeko Chi Chi Polish {with flash}

{Left] Eyeko Punk Polish, [Right] Eyeko Chi Chi Polish {without flash}

If you're asking me, one of the best low-end nail polishes you can get around are probably Eyeko nail polishes (along with a few other brands).  I love their range, product quality, price and packaging.  So when I was sent two of their latest additions to their nail polish range, i was really rather excited.

The first is Punk Polish which is actually an extremely fast drying neon pink.  It dries off matte and looks great even with one quick coat.  This is a totally awesome colour and will serve me well for parties and gigs. 

The second was for the polar opposite girls and it's called Chi Chi Polish.  According to Eyeko it's 'for girls nails', so it's made for those who are extremely fluffy and sweet.  Really it's just a lot of orangey-pink glitter and two coats can get you the results above.  However if you want more of an opaque result, three coats would suffice. Furthermore, I would recommend you definitely applying a top coat for this!

My favourite of the two is Punk polish although I can't see myself using it much.  Chi Chi polish will probably prove to be more versatile, time will tell.

Have you tried these out yet?

Peace,

Cherry

PS.  When purchasing from EYEKO, type in the code E3103 for a free gift!

Urban Decay's Naked Palette

Girls and guys, I really don't think I've been THIS excited about an eye shadow palette in a long time.  The last time happened was perhaps my 120 Pro palette experience but this just cannot be compared.

When I first saw the debut of this palette I almost had a heart-beat meltdown.  It's everything I've ever wanted and although it sounds absolutely ridiculous every word is true.  I've always loved colour and I'm not unhappy with rainbow palettes but for me, a good neutral eye is not only hard to achieve but its timeless, classy and versatile.  To be able to work a good neutral eye you really have to discover the right tones, shades and shape; the wrong brown or taupe can make you look dirty or tired. 

Urban Decay, known for its bright and powerful eye shadows, has bought out their own neutral shades palette and I adore it because of the range of textures, colours, the sexy packaging and amazing quality.  I could not believe it when I opened the box; it's sexier in real life than on screen.

 

The range is breath taking and it crushes my ebay neutral palette to smitherines. It's my new love!

My favourite shades are definitely Virgin, Naked, Buck, Darkhorse, Creep and Gun metal <3

The palette also comes with a double ended eyeliner with both Zero (a striking black) and Whiskey (a dark, velvet brown)

Above is Zero, Whiskey and then Bourbon; the latter is one of my favourite browns from UD and as you can see it's a rich, darker brown than Whiskey.

You'll also find a mini UD Shadow Primer Potion which will be perfect for travelling.  It's so cute!

Do you want to get Naked?

Peace,

Cherry

Goodbye Summer, What's up Fall?

Summer is slowly ticking away for us  here in the UK and why I'm sad to wave good bye to beautiful weather, obligatory ice cream, obsessive SPF, hot topless men and beach wave hair, I'm also quite excited about Fall coming along.

I love Fall (or Autumn, as we say here in England) because I adore the chestnut coloured trees and the cool breeze against the dimming sun; there is nothing quite like walking in warm rain.  But one of the best things about Fall is the transition in fashion and how comfortable I am with it.

For me, Fall is about layering, smart dressing that sees bringing small parts of Summer into your warmer attire and enjoying the feel of different fabrics.  One of my favourite additions to cooler weather clothing is actually ladies knitwear.  While I think a cute boyfriend knit cardigan is always cool to throw on, I enjoy the more feminine kind because it suits my shape and style more. 

Knitwear can be disastrous if you don't accessorize well or if you overdo it; far too often do I see cardigans being slung on without thought and usually rather than complimenting, it destroys a person's shape and outfit. 

To wear your knitwear right this Fall, remember to find pieces that are the right length for your body; also chunky knitwear isn't for everyone (I'm a fine example of that) and never wear too much knit wear in one go unless you want to look like granny's knitting basket.

Here are some pieces I've seen around that are totally inspiring me this Fall.

 

 

 

And here are some pieces that a few of my favourite designers produced this A/W 2010.

 

Sophistication at Prada RTW AW2010

70s Country Chic at Anna Sui RTW AW2010

Statement Scarf Style at Issey Miyaki RTW AW2010

Sexy oversized cardigans at Stella McCartney RTW AW2010

Are you looking forward to Autumn/Fall?

Peace,

Cherry x

Giving Back (Giveaway) - Maybelline Mono Eye shadow

 

Thank you for helping me reach to 376 followers; I hope it's been as amazing for you as it's been for me. 

I will be doing regular mini give aways from now on just to show my appreciation.  They will be small but they are free for you so go ahead and enter!

I'm giving away this NEW Maybelline Eyestudio Mono Eyeshadow in 'I love Lilac'.  It's going to be a beautiful for this summer and looks beautiful on everyone!  Who doesn't love lilac?

Rules:

1. You must be a follower - that's a given.
2. Post my blog link on another blog (or beauty website) and tell them about my give away.  Then in the comments below, link me back to that website.
3. If you are under 16 please have permission for me to send you this product as I will be needing your personal address.  If you are unsure, just ask your parents!
4. This giveaway ends  on Sunday.  Next give away is next Monday.

Next give away will be: GOSH VELVET TOUCH PRIMER

Good luck

Peace

BarryM Limited Edition Nail Polish 030

Okay, I know I said I was on P10P but I couldn't resist the 2 for £5 deal on BarryM Nail Polishes (in both Superdrug and Boots btw). 

The reason this naughty purchase happened was because I was dry out of base coat nail polish (yay for P10P!) but I was starting to struggle without it.  For me, it is a necessity because nail polish is what makes me happy.  I'm serious!  I went without a base coat once recently and I ended up with stained yellow nails, so I now refuse to use it without protection (remember this, boys and girls).

So I decided to put a base coat as a necessity...after all, the BarryM base coat is also a top coat as well as a nail hardener at the same time.  So is that not nail care?

Seeing as it was Limited Edition and there were no other ones catching my eye I picked up this pretty lilac-magenta purple bottle and decided this was going to be my colour of the moment.

A gorgeous one coat does the trick and definitely makes me smile.  It's like a burst of spring time with a sprinkle of feminine charm; it's everything you would want in a nail polish. 

Have you run out to get this baby yet?

Peace,

Cherry x

New Nail Polish Storage NEEDED + Raspberry Zebra Nails

It's getting a bit ridiculous isn't it?  What once used to be ample storage space for my modest nail polish collection, has become an overcrowded tool box of confusion and colours.  Love it as I might, I think I need a bigger box if not for the fact that one day soon the lid won't close, then because I absolutely cannot stand rummaging through all those nail polishes looking for one colour, and not piling them all back in.   I will have to find a different way of storing them ... any ideas?

While I'm at it, I thought I'd show my nails for today.  Having had an in depth conversation with a friend about the colours of deep cherries, I started to crave for a juicy dark red colour and one of my favourites is BarryM's Nail Paint in Raspberry.  So I decided to go for an animal print, zebra if you will, with a complimenting white strip to give it a modern feel.  What do you think?

What's your go-to statement colour?

Peace,

Cherry x

Wedding appropriate attire

What to wear to a wedding?

These days I find dressing up for a wedding to be a lot less complicated than it used to be.  In the old days, going to a wedding meant you had to wear something smart/formal and anything too bright/colourful/revealing/short/etc was out of the question, at least at an Asian wedding anyway!

In 2010, weddings seem to attract the strangest of fashion senses, perhaps it's an indication of warped taste or maybe some think weddings are now a chance to party up as opposed to celebrate in style.  I didn't feel comfortable enough to take pictures of the fashion victims at the wedding however I did take pictures of my family and friends and particularly, what my sister and I wore.  I thought I'd show you one of my favourite outfits; I've worn this outfit to several different events, all accessorised differently with different hair styles, brooches, ribbons, shoes, bags, make up etc.  For me, you should always wear something that won't clash for the bride or her maids/maid of honour; you should look groomed and well presented.  This means, nothing fluorescent or too shimmery!

 

Above is a picture of my brother in law, my sister, the bride and myself.  I'm wearing my laced blazer from River Island and my Miso floral dress from Republic.  I didn't manage to find a picture of my shoes but I'm wearing my favourite brown heels and carried my Louis Vuitton messenger hand bag. 

I'm particularly pleased with my Sister's outfit because we've always had a problem when it came to buying clothes for her.  She has a very particular taste and often she finds it hard to pick up softer and more feminine pieces.  We were looking for something that didn't scream attention yet something pretty and that she could wear again. 

We picked a beautiful tea dress from Miss Selfridge which happens to be on sale at  the moment!  It's beautifully understated and what's great about something like this is that you can wear any outer wear with this and change up the colour arrangement.  The frills are very 'fall/autumn' and the colour is absolutely timeless.  The beauty about a tea dress is the versatility and if you shop smart, this can take you through many years to come!

 

What would you wear to a wedding?

Peace,

Cherry x

Eyeko Creams and Eyeko Nail Polishes continued...

Recently I was sent few products from Eyeko to try out and boy, am I pleased!  I was sent their Limited Edition 3in1 Cream which now has 'Extra Glow' to try and so I thought it would be a good time to compare its original to the new limited edition. 

Left :Original 3in1 Cream
Right: Limited Edition 3in1 Extra Glow Cream

 

The original 3in1 cream moisturises the skin, highlights the face and supposedly works as an eye cream.  I am guessing that the eye cream claims from its hydrating properties and its light reflecting qualities but I haven't heard many people using it for this purpose. 

The new Limited Edition is not as dense as the original and gives a different highlight and also it contains jojoba and vitamin E.  The original look gives a yellow warm hue while the 'Extra Glow' gives off a pearlescent shimmery highlight.  Below are some pictures to show you the difference.

 

Left :Original 3in1 Cream
Right: Limited Edition 3in1 Extra Glow Cream

 

The picture above shows what the creams look like applied to the skin but not yet blended in.  I wanted to show you the texture as well as an obvious difference.

Left :Original 3in1 Cream
Right: Limited Edition 3in1 Extra Glow Cream

 

When blended in, these give off completely different highlighting results.  While 'Extra Glow' gives a brighter and lighter appearance, I can't help but enjoy both creams because the original look is much more warm and sun kissed; use this under a mineral skin finish by MAC (such as By Candlelight) and this really creates a gorgeous glowing look to the face.  I do like the new 'Extra Glow', this is a great all-round highlighter and will look lovely all year round.

Currently these creams retail at £8.00 per pot on Eyeko's website but I think they are great value because they truly last for a very long time as little goes a long way.  These creams are very dense and give decent colour pay off.  If you do happen to be spending at Eyeko, please use my Ambassador Code:

Moving on, I wanted to talk about two more of the Eyeko Nail Polishes.  Previously I had written a post about their nail polishes which you can find here.  I had mentioned that I previously had lost one of my favourite Eyeko nail polishes which was 'Nude' Polish.  Thankfully, Eyeko sent over another one to replace it and I was completely overjoyed!  Here is a swatch of this gorgeous pink nude:

 

Eyeko Nail Polish in 'Nude'

I adore colours that take zero thinking power to apply; this is definitely a no brainer because it goes with absolutely anything and looks particularly gorgeous in the Spring time!

They also kindly sent over Cosmic polish which was one of the few that I am missing from my collection.  I am so pleased because out of the few that were missing, this is the one I was really wanting to get my hands on.

Eyeko Nail Polish in 'Cosmic'

Cosmic polish is rock glam in a bottle; the gorgeous liquorice black with multi coloured sparkles really makes it look like you've dipped your fingers into space!  It's glossy and dries very quickly, it's my current favourite and obsession.  The sparkles are not too chunky like glitter and it's not fine enough to be shimmery; it just looks like stars in the galactic!  I love it!

What's your favourite Eyeko Product?

Peace,

Cherry x

Project 10 Pan Query

I just need to be enlightened but ...

for those who have done the whole P10P shabang, can I ask...do Hair Care products count?  Surely that is a necessity as is skincare which apparently doesn't count?  But if that was the case... would make up not be a necessity too?  How can we define this?  Doesn't it just depend? 

Someone, please clear this up for me!

Peace,

Cherry x

Blog Tag!

Yep.  So I'm tagged by my bestie Vicky to answer eight of her questions and my job will then be to tag some of you lot!  Seeing as it's 4am and I'm not asleep, this seems suitably appropriate.

 

Rules:
People who are tagged must answer the 8 questions, make their own 8 questions and pass it to 8 Blogger buddies, to continue the cycle!

Vicky's questions are as follows:

1. Twitter or Facebook?  ~ Facebook hands down!

2. Tea, coffee or hot chocolate? ~ Oh my.  Tea.

3.iPhone or Blackberry? ~ I want to say iphone but I'm going to stay loyal to my BB crew!

4.Words or Pictures? ~ Can I say 'both'? :P.  Words.

5.Cinema or DVD? ~ DVD!

6.Still or Sparkling water? ~ Never sparkling!

7.Toy Story 2 or Toy Story 3? ~I haven't seen 3 yet so 2 it is although I hear good things about 3

8.Windows laptop or Apple Macbook? ~ Well Windows but I do want me a Macbook!

 

And that's it!   So I'm going to tag the following to answer the questions below:

Ling
Charming Vanity
Shirley
Erica
Lisa
Fei
Get Gawjus
Gemma

 

And my questions will be the following:

1: What's your earliest memory'?
2: What's the meaning to life?
3: What would you do if you found out that the sky was actually pink all this time?
4: Little Black Dress or Little White Dress?
5: Who's concert are you dying to go to next?
6: I'm a genie and I grant you a wish, what shall it be?
7: Cosmopolitan or Glamour Magazine?
8: What's your worst habit?

Peace,

Cherry x

How to blow-dry hair straight!

 

Products Used:

V05 Heat Protectant Styling Spray
TIGI Catwalk Root Booster Spray
Umberto Giannini Sleek and Chic Blow Dry Cream
Kerastase Oleo Relax Oil
Corioliss Round Brush
John Frieda Secret Agent Finishing Cream
Bedhead Head Rush Shine Spray

Peace,

Cherry x

NOTD - Cherry Cherry Boom Boom!

I thought I'd share with you a really quick and cute cherry design I did on my nails the other day.  It's very easy to do and takes seconds.  All you need is a very fine brush and something like a ball point pen if you don't have one of those fancy nail sticks with balls on the end :)

First base - Essie (California Coral)
Second base - TopShop (Sunset)
Green stem - BarryM 284
Red Cherries - BarryM (Bright Red)

I hope this inspired you to create your own nails with your favourite fruits on them!

Would you like a tutorial one day?

Peace,

Cherry

Best and Worst of July 2010

July has been and gone and it was a crazy month for me; I want to share some products that has got me through this month and put a smile on my face.

 

Botanics Instant Glow Tinted Moisturiser

If you have not yet read my review for this product then please check it out here.  I have been using this product every summer and it's particularly appreciated on hot days.  It's disappointing to know the amount of people who don't actually like this; I think it's very hard to colour match with this product and I'm lucky enough for it to match mine!  I personally don't find it cakey and like that its neither too heavy nor too sheer.  A win for me. 

Claire's Accessories Blusher - Discontinued

I won't ramble on about this one because I'm almost certain you can no longer find this in stores.  This was passed down from my equally as fashion/beauty obsessed best friend, Vicky, who had a few in a stash (this girl collects, a lot).  I had kept it at the back of my storage for a while and when I tried it out I was pleasantly pleased.  What it does remind me of are my love for blushers and bronzers that come pressed in gradient shades.  I love the versatility of that concept and I think it means consumers like us can save on buying so many different colours. 

 

Beauty UK Palette - Earth Child

Beauty UK palettes, which are found in Superdrug or on the Beauty Uk Website, are great value and worth checking out.  Each palette comes with 10 complimenting colours and there are a six different palettes to choose from.  This palette should take you all through out the year and you can create classic, timeless looks or even dramatic smoky eyes.  The eye shadows have some minor fall out but it doesn't bother me too much; I experience similar happenings with Sleek products and they are still amazing to me.  I would snap these up quickly because they are becoming increasingly popular and that only means prices will rise.  So at £3.49, what have you got to lose?

This is a quick smoky brown look I did with this palette.  Simple! 

Garnier Spot-on Roll-on

This has helped me zap my spots well in the month of July! My skin seems to have become quite immune to the Origins Spot Remover (don't worry, this happens with me!) I have had to seek out other spot busting products and this is the one that's come out on top.  I wouldn't recommend this for sensitive skin but it will work well for those who keep getting red blemishes and need to battle them quick time!  Overall a decent product and I will remember this one in the future when I need a spot busting boost.

 

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes

 

I will be doing a review on this soon but I will tell you that it's become my go-to mascara this month.  It lengthens and gives enough volume but not too heavy to become spider-lashes.  It some how gives me a fuller set of lashes ('millionizing' them I guess!) and doesn't clump up my lashes due to a relatively thin formula and a good stopper on the tube to stop excessive amounts of mascara gathering on the brush.  Overall, a quality mascara from L'Oreal again! 

 

Blistex Intensive Moisturiser

 

The perfect moisturiser for the lips; a saviour for when I did my lipstick swatching video.  It doesn't give shine and doesn't sit on top of the lips like a lot of petroleum based lip products do.  This seeps into the lips and soothes really well.  Like a lot of the Blistex products, this is nourishing and definitely needed in every girl's purse.  This will be kept by  my side for when the weather turns cold and my lips will become dry. 

 

Garnier Hydrolock Moisturiser

A perfect moisturiser for those who hate greasy lotions and prefer the thinner formulas for legs, arms and feet.  This has been keeping my limbs soft and supple and has been a God-send every time I've rushed out of the door with shorts on.  Unfortunately it's doesn't contain an SPF otherwise it would be perfect.  This is a wonderfully thin formula but leaves your skin feeling smooth and most of all, not sticky!  Overall a quality moisturiser and a recommended product! 

 

Sleek Kajal Eyeliner - Nocturnal

This has been really easy to use and definitely speeds up the eye-lining process.  The Sleek Kajal Eyeliners are great for creating a dramatic winged liner or even good as a black base for your eye shadow.  The formula is somewhat waxy so it can slip and slide if its on the lower lash line and the weather is particularly warm.  This is sorted out with some black eye shadow on top which is normal practice for me.  Overall a good one to pick up for those who love a dramatic eye effect!

 

How has July been for you?

Peace,

Cherry

33 Lipsticks Swatch

I hope you girls enjoy this! 

MUSIC BY FRANKI LOVE http://www.youtube.com/user/frankilov...

Disclaimer: Some of these lipsticks may already be discontinued!
1. Liparazzi Lipstick - Rehab
2. The Body Shop Lipstick -- Bronze 01
3. Maybelline Colour Sensational - Midnight Plum 338
4. Maybelline Colour Sensational - Galactic Mauve
5. Maxfactor Lasting Colour - Midnight Plum
6. MAC Matte Lipstick - Ruby Woo
7. Revlon Matte Lipstick - Strawberry Suede
8. Maybelline Moisture Exteme Lipstick - Passion Red
9. Revlon Matte Lipstick - Wine Not
10. Rimmel Color Show Off Lipstick - Kiss Me
11. Maybelline Colour Sensational - Shimmer Pink 125
12. Maybelline Colour Sensational - Ambre Rose
13. Maybelline Moisture Extreme - Toffee Cream
14. Maybelline Colour Sensational -- Sweet Pink 132
15. MAC Amplified Creme Lipstick - Saint Germaine
16. Maybelline Colour Sensational - Pink Hurricane 165
17. Clinique Long Last Lipstick - All heart (soft Shine) 15
18. Maybelline Colour Show Off - Shake Up Pink
19. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick - Peach
20. Rimmel Colour Show Off - Tell No One
21. ELF Mineral Lipstick - Nicely Nude
22. Illamasqua Lipstick - Obey
23. Maybelline Colour Sensational - Coral Pop
24. MAC Creme Sheen Lipstick - Ravishing
25. Maybelline Colour Sensational -- Summer Pink 148
26. Estee Lauder Pure Colour Crystal Lipstick - Crystal Nude 302
27. GOSH Lipstick - Darling 134
28. L'Oreal Color Riche Shine Gelee Lipstick - Golden Vanilla
29. Revlon Matte Lipstick - Mauve it over
30. Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick - Nude Delight
31. BarryM Lip Paint -- Peachy Pink 147
32. MAC Creme Sheen Lipstick - Creme D'Nude
33. Revlon Matte Lipstick -- Nude Attitude
34. Blistex Intensive Moisture

 

Any favourites?

Peace,

Cherry x