Paint the Roses Red: December 2014

2014 Beauty Picks

It's hard to believe that 2015 is right around the corner! However as this is the case, I thought I would collect up my favourite products from the past 12 months. I hope you find this round-up somewhat insightful as to what I have been loving this past year!

Eye liners were kind of a thing for me this year..

In the picture above we have my top 3 eye liners or 2014 -

Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner

This is the first ever gel liner that I have ever really used. It was quite hard to figure out at first, but once I got it working it looked great!

Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner

This is pretty much your bog-standard felt tip liner. It's easy to apply, dries quick and lasts quite the while.

M.A.C Technakol Liner in Graphblack

This M.A.C eye liner is a dupe for the Collection Eye Definer liner, however the M.A.C liner doesn't smudge throughout the day and is therefore much more suitable for the waterline.

Revlon are a bit good, aren't they?!

These two products are from Revlon's Colourburst collection which I think was released this year, if not the year before. I was a little late to trying the products but I'm so glad I have because they are so lovely!

Revlon Colourburst Lacquer Balm in the colour 150 Enticing
Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in the colour 205 Elusive

Skincare + a powder - a tad random this one

Next up, from left to right to bottom, if that makes any sense whatsoever!

The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner

This toner is for combination/oily skin - which I just so happen to have! Its purpose is to minimize pores and to reduce excess oil as well as removing impurities.

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream

I usually apply a little of this after I use the toner. I haven't noticed a huge difference since using it, but it smells really nice and the packaging is really cute; so it still counts right?

M.A.C Mineralize Skin Finish in the shade Light

This is a pressed powder. It makes your face look a lot less oily. I feel very strongly about this powder. It is very good. You should buy it. And yes, it is worth the money.

Lip stuffs and Concealers now!

Maybelline Baby Lips Hydrate
The Body Shop, Born Lippy, Passionberry Lip Balm

I usually put either of these two on before I go to bed, they work really well and have stopped my lips from cracking during these cold winter months.

And last but not least, a mascara

Benefit They're Real Black Mascara

It lengthens, volumizes, does the whole lot!

Shop This Post -

Benefit They're Real! Push-Up Liner
Collection Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip Liner
M.A.C Technakol Liner in Graphblack
Revlon Colourburst Lacquer Balm in the colour 150 Enticing
Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in the colour 205 Elusive
The Body Shop Seaweed Clarifying Toner
Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream
M.A.C Mineralize Skin Finish in the shade Light
Maybelline Baby Lips Hydrate
The Body Shop, Born Lippy, Passionberry Lip Balm
Benefit They're Real Black Mascara

Happy new year!!!

18:58
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Book Notes

I do apologize for the slight delay of this post, but I hope you enjoy reading it nonetheless!

As 2014 is coming to a close, I have taken a look at all the books I have read this year. With help from Goodreads, I have been able to compile a list of books I have read this year as well as look at some extra statistics.

The idea behind 'Book Notes' is that I write 10 words or less about each book I have read within this year. That way, how I feel about the books can be written to the point, and read quickly. So without further ado, I present, Book Notes!

In January 2014, I set myself a reading challenge on Goodreads. I gave myself the target of reading 25 books this year. I am pleased to say that I have read 26 books this year and therefore am going to set myself the target of 25 books to read in 2015.

Please note that these books are in no particular order! But if you want to see what I rated them, check out my Goodreads profile (links will be at the bottom!).

The longest book I have read this year is Solitaire by Alice Osemen which I have only recently finished. I gave it 5/5 stars on Goodreads and absolutely loved it!

I am currently reading 3 books:

Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler

Twelfth Night by Shakespeare

and Complete Fairy Tales by Jacob Grimm

Useful Links -

Goodreads

17:38
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Christmas Penguin Nail Tutorial

Beauty

To get into the Christmas spirit I thought I would show you how to create a fun, Christmassy penguin on your nails.

For this design you will need the same/similar nail polishes to the ones I have in the picture above. You will also need some dotting tools or a toothpick to create small circles.

After applying a base coat (optional!) paint your entire nail black. For this, I am using a black from O.P.I.

After that has dried, you want to take a white nail polish, and paint from half way down your nail to the tip.

You also want the white to go slightly outwards towards the tip of your nail, so that the shape is curved rather than straight.

Next, you need a dotting tool however a toothpick/hair pin also works fine. You want to create two dots with tour white nail polish fairly close to the base of your nail; like I have so in the photo above.

Once that has dried you will need the black nail polish again as well as a smaller dotting tool. Two finish the eyes you need to create two smaller dots inside the larger white dots.

Next is the beak. To do this I used one of my dotting tools to create a small triangle below the eyes. This took me a little while to master but it's easier to start at the bottom and then stretch out the triangle going upwards.

To finish off our little penguin we need to add some feet. To do this I used the same colour as I used for the beak, and using the same dotting tool I painted two small dots at the very tip of the nail.

After that I went over the whole nail with a top coat from Collection.

And there you have it! A finished Christmas penguin nail design! I hope you found this tutorial relatively easy! Please let me know in the comments :)

13:55
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Birchbox Roundup

Beauty

It has been a year since I first received a box from Birchbox, and as my 12 month subscription has come to an end I thought I would round it off by writing about my Birchbox highs and lows.

I have 11 ultimate favourite products from this past year which I received in the boxes, however I lost the picture to one of them, hence why it is not in the collage above.

The 'missing picture' product was the

Benefit POREfessional primer sample

which I received way back in my January Birchbox (all links will be at the bottom of this post!).

The rest of my favourite products, going from left to right and top to bottom are as follows -

OPI, Turn on the Haute Light Nail Polish - from my November Birchbox

This is a full size nail polish and is a wintery shimmery silver that is part of OPI's limited edition Coca-Cola collection.

Liz Earle Beauty Co. Cleanse & Polish, Hot Cloth Cleanser.

This arrived in my May Birchbox and came with a muslin cloth to use with the product.

Benefit It's Potent! Eye Cream
Modelco Power Lash Mascara

I received both of these products in my September Birchbox and absolutely love them.

Montezuma's Mini Mar

This is the chocolate bar featured on the second row of my collage and was the lifestyle extra on my November Birchbox.

A Beauty Protector, Protect and Detangle Leave in Conditioner

This was one of the very first products I received from Birchbox as it came in my December Birchbox. It didn't take me long to use up but it did its job and smelt really nice!

My next favourite product came from the same brand as my previous favourite.

Beauty Protector Oil

This hair oil arrived in my February Birchbox and although it was a very small sample it did last me quite the while.

Now onto the bottom row of my fancy collage!

Beauty Blender + Cleanser

I use my beauty blender all the time and absolutely love it, so I would definitely recommend you spending the little extra to purchase one! The Beauty Blender was in my September Birchbox.

Yves Rocher Sheer Botanical Lipstic

I received this coral/orange lipstick in my Word Cup/Brazil themed Birchbox back in June. I really love the colour and the packaging is really cute as well!

My final Birchbox favourite is..

the Lillipops Nail Lacquer

I got this nail polish in my October Birchbox and it is a really pretty red colour with a hint of orange.

Although I have a lot of favourites from this past year, there have also been a few products I really wasn't very happy with, the majority of them being the hyped up 'lifestyle extras'.

As before, from left to right, top to bottom -

Twistband hair tie

I thought this knotted hair tie was a really cute idea as it looks pretty and is something I wouldn't mind having on my wrist until I needed it. However as I have really thick hair it doesn't hold it in place!

Jane Iredale, Just Kissed Lip Plumper

I received this lipstick last month and the only problem I have with it is its colour. Brown lipstick really doesn't suit me..

Vita Coco Natural Coconut Water in Lemonade

I really don't like coconut, not do I like coconut water, hence why I didn't like receiving a carton of coconut water in my July Birchbox.

Propercorn; Fiery Worcester Sauce & Sun-Dried Tomato flavour

I love popcorn, however I prefer to stick to the more usual flavours.

There is one more product which I forgot to put in the picture.

Laqa & Co. Sheer Lip Lube Pencil in Menatour

I received this lip product in my July Birchbox. I really don't like the colour. Purple lips isn't a look I would like to go for..

And that is it for my Birchbox roundup! I hope you've enjoyed reading my Birchbox posts over this past year. Maybe in the future if I get a new subscription I will start writing about the boxes again, but until then I say farewell to Birchbox!

From the very beginning -

December 2013 Birchbox

January 2014 Birchbox

February 2014 Birchbox

March & April 2014 Birchbox

October 2014 Birchbox

November 2014 Birchbox