Avon Campaign 6 Mini-Haul

Hi guys,

So I hope you are having a great weekend! I had planned to publish this post on Friday however I've been so caught up with work and so tired once I get home that I haven't been able to put it together till now. All images seen below were taken from Google.

The best way to create a flawless finish is to use good brushes. There are so many brands out there that we can sometimes fall into the trap of spending ludicrous amounts of money. 

I had previously bought a make up brush set off ebay but found that the bristles were quite rough and I wasn't able to transfer the make up efficiently onto my face. I already have a Real Techniques face brush which is amazing at buffing any foundation into your face and would have purchased more however the price isn't quite economically friendly.

So I've purchased four new brushes which I am quite happy with. Below is an image of the current range of make up brushes by Avon.

I've purchased Number 1, face brush, Number 3, blush brush, Number 7, retractable brush and also the concealer brush as seen below. 

Before the bristles were all black and seemed stiffer. This new range seems to have a new DNA altogether. I was quite surprised with the retractable lip brush. An ingenious bit of architecture which will help preserve the bristles. 

You actually have to push the brush outwards for the lip brush to pop out. Mind you I was a bit confused at first as I couldn't figure it out. :S Soon solved that problem. The other brushes have a flimsy plastic brush guard which I am using to keep the bristles intact and will have to do for now. I might invest in a brush roll to keep them stored.

I also purchased a new blush and two new lipsticks. I have a sneaky suspicion that coral is going to the new trend this season. Color Trend, designed for the younger ladies, has some fun coloured items and I chose the blusher in Flora and lipstick in Smoochable. 

The Color Trend lipsticks have a new bullet design which is quite cute and the colour is a nice pinky tone. Not too in your face so it is perfect for the office.

The Ultra Colour Lipstick Satin in Ripe Papaya is a gorgeously creamy lipstick in a corally tone. All Avon lipsticks have the brand name embossed into the lipstick bullet which is a nice touch. 

Lastly the blush I chose it also a corally tone. I will always love the bronzed beauty look but this summer it will all be about expressing youth and vitality. 

I have been searching for a foundation for ages and have tried Avon foundations, Wake Me Up and even a MAC foundation. The best tip I have learnt from the Youtube Make up Guru's is that our skin is made up of different tones and no one shade will ever truly fit. The CC cream I bought is in the shade Nude. It is just rightly balanced all I need now is something to wear underneath to diminish the redness which occurs naturally in my skin and even more so from the blemishes on my cheeks. Once my e.l.f order arrives I will be able to put that to the test. 

All in all I am quite content with this lot and will look to use them more often. Within the next few days I should get my e.l.f order and am excited about the Spring Collection as I have no idea what this collection consists of. 

"It is never selfish nor vain to create the best version of yourself for yourself"

March Birchbox

It has arrived! Yes, my March Lulu Guiness colaboration box has arrived. Right now I am enjoying some music from Paolo Nutini and some stripy candy that was included this monthly box.

So to help welcome Spring all Birchbox subscribers received the following goodies...

• £20 off voucher on any purchases over £100 online or at any Lulu Guinness store. 
• Voucher to try the new Gimme Brow by Benefit and get a Makeupper? 
• Small sample of Christopher Wicks English Laundry No. 7 scent.
• Molton Brown Rhubarb & Rose Replenishing Hand Cream
• Benefit's Stay Don't Stray primer in the shade Light/Medium
• Dr. Brandt's Pores No More Pore Refiner
• Korres Citrus Body Milk

Besides getting some candy to satisfy my sweet tooth, which has Lulu Birchbox squeezed into the design,  the item I am most excited about if Benefit's primer. I have heard some great reviews on the Benefit's products in general and besides my oily nose I do get oily eye lids. It was even one of Lulu's picks. 

This month I thought I would take inspiration from the goodies in the box to create a make up look. The Birchbox bag this month is a minty green and taking into account that Easter is around the corner I thought of this...

My Spring/Summer 2014 look! Of course this has a strong Easter theme influence however taking the simple template and swapping some of the colours can take this look to the next level. I have the 120 Fraulein Eyeshadow Palette which is a great inexpensive tool which can create a diverse number of looks. 

You can easily get any number of template's online by searching Google. I chose this one as there is enough space to mess about and you can also note down the products you use across the face as well as take down any additional notes.

So many colours!

As I want this to be a fun, light and pretty look I stuck with three colours. Mint green, pink/purple and yellow. The mint green I used as a base colour across the lid and slightly winged outwards. The yellow I kept to the inner corner and extended it a bit to the brow bone. The pink/puple was used to create a cut crease but I blended it out so as not to create such a drastic block of colour. To top this eye look off I used Eyeko Skinny Liner in Black to create a double winged look. You can use a matte or shimmery white/pearl colour in between the flicks to mimic the black and white striped hard candy. 

I would use Avon's New Luxe Mascara in Black simply because I am in love with it. However, please note, do not go overboard with the lashes. This is meant to be a soft look. So NO contouring except for the soft pink blush on the cheeks. If you wish you can use additional products to create a peachy complexion. 

My little extra would be the rhinestones or if you are really looking to go the extra mile you could also use fimo canes. To make it a bit trippy you could glue some slices to fake lashes. Klairedelys did a great look for her Seven Deadly Sins series - Gluttony. 

You can find her here: http://www.klairedelys.com/2013/09/06/seven-deadly-sins-gluttony/ 

Finally I would stick to a neutral peach colour on the lips purely because I want to keep the look simple and wearable. If I were to switch it up a bit I would use a hot pink/fuchsia coloured lipstick and maybe a brightly colour eye liner instead of the black.  

So my advice for Spring/Summer...have fun with colour. 

A bit of vintage.

So I have set up my twitter account and it is 21st_Guinevere. Striking up conversations and getting people to help me reach my 1k in followers has been my goal. Right up until the Wifi started failing.

So I have a smartphone, tablet and a new laptop and once again I find myself on my mother's PC. Right back where it all started.

After striking up a conversation with tweeter hannahavon_xo about our current favourite Avon products Avon_UK asked the following...

"If you ever come across an old product be sure to take a photo for us, some of those old bottles are sooo pretty! :) x"

 From left to right we have Wild Country (Year unknown), Fantasque (???), Night Musk (Possibly from 1982) and Friktion (1999).

 From left to right we have Honeysuckle (1963) and Song of Christmas (1980). Also a sample bottle of Sweet Honesty (2005).

And lastly one of the most interesting shaped bottles Smart Move (Date unknown).

Out of all these old Avon perfume's my favourite is Honeysuckle. The packaging and colour theme of the box as well as the shape of the bottle and lid are a literal epitome of all that is vintage and chic. Something you might find on Marilyn Monroe or Dita Von Tesse's drawer table.

Please like, share, comment, retweet and favour! If I find anymore I will definitely post a picture and any information about them I can get.



e.l.f's debate

Okay peeps,

So it's lunch time and I'm checking facebook, as we do, and I come across a recent post on the e.l.f facebook page.

The question raised today about the debate going on at e.l.f is as follows 60's eyeliner or 80's eyeshadow?

Without a shadow of a doubt (get the pun?) my reply would be the 60's eyeliner. Thanks to Elizabeth Taylor and the role she reprised as Cleopatra in the movie Cleopatra (1963).

Even though I am in love with Illamasqua's Molten Metal range the classic eyeliner is a staple in my daily makeup routine. Be it tight-lining, gel eyeliner or even just a touch of brown/black eye shadow to the lashline. So...

...my answer is the 60's eyeliner!