My Xmas Face!

Hello there lovelies!!

I hope everyone had a truly wonderful Christmas and that you're not all stuck indoors full of flu like i am this New Years' Eve!! Brunette Beauty Banter has been extremely quiet over the festive period because myself and the fur-babies have been away visiting family in Derbyshire and Yorkshire for the past 10 days. That does NOT, however, mean that nothing has been happening and i have a couple of festive posts to go up tonight to end 2012. I thought i'd start with my Xmas FOTD and show you what my festive product choices were...

Forget the face for a sec, the first thing you'll probably notice is that i'm back to ombre, having removed all traces of the pink/red that was in my hair. Nothing against redheads at all, and it was fun while it lasted, but its all too messy and time consuming for me. And that's that. On to ze face....

Base:

I've got no time for anything mattifying at Christmas. It's all about the festive glow (helped along by lashings of pink bubbly and Baileys later on). The foundation i opted for was Max Factor Xperience in shade 80 (Dark Gypsum). I really rate this foundation for giving great coverage without being thick, heavy and generally obstructive. It's the ONLY drugstore foundation that i go back to again and again. The powder i went for was my Cover FX Illuminating Powder in Medium*. I have been very impressed by this powder, after being initially worried that it would be shine-city. It isn't at all and just gives a lovely glow to the skin as well as setting my foundation in place. 

Cheeks:

Kept it simple with just one product this year and it was Sleek Powder Blush in Fenberry (which i believe was a LE last year in the Berry Collection). I find this to be the perfect winter hue and gives a gorgeous warm flush to the cheeks. This blush only really gets used at Christmas, but i enjoy it all the more for saving it. I had intended to use a highlight as well, but i conveniently forgot to take it with me. Silly girl. In the end i didn't actually miss it. 

Eyes: 

Does this Mally "In the Buff" Palette* remind you of anything?? I'm going to do a full review of this palette VERY soon so i'm not going to go into detail just yet. I chose this for Christmas because i wanted a nice, neutral eye that wasn't overly shimmery and this palette has a great range of matte and shimmer shades so i could find that perfect balance. 

Eyes Ctd: 

These are all staple products in my makeup bag now. I use them EVERY day. I'm sure most of us can vouch for the awesome-ness of the HD Brows palette, although i'm using it less at the moment as i have a full fringe and that means i can get away with being lazy with my brows. HA! 17 Peep Show Mascara is my current favourite and i will be repurchasing it once its gone. It gives a lovely, long lash without being overly fibrous. My current Gel liner is the Maybelline version, but i plan on branching out in the new year and experimenting with other brands. 

Lashes: 

I'm not a massive wearer of lashes, but i chose these Eylure Katy Perry lashes in Sweetie Pie* for Christmas day because they are so pretty, yet aren't too RAWR. It wasn't a party party kind of Christmas this year, more of a family gathering so i went for the subtle-yet-sweet option. 

Lips:

This Christmas face was all about the lips. I knew immediately that this year i HAD to have MAC Ruby Woo (Retro Matte) lipstick. The lipliner i got to go with it was MAC Cherry lip pencil. I always seem to want a bold lip at Christmas and i adore the colour of Ruby Woo. It's so flattering. My only grumble is that its a little drying on my lips, but a dash of Carmex underneath is all it needs. 

So those were my Festive product heroes. Once again, i hope everyone had a magical Christmas and wish you all the best for 2013. I will be ushering in the new year eating Domino's and watching DVDs in bed witha BIG mug of Lemsip (Rock'n'Roll)

What products made your Christmas this year?? What shades make you feel festive??

Last Minute Xmas Gift Ideas for 2012

Evening my lovelies!

I thought it was about time Brunette Beauty Banter got in the Xmas spirit today. Been a little behind lately but, thankfully, i have now broken up from Uni and am away on my Xmas hols from Friday visiting with family in Derbyshire and Yorkshire so should have plenty of time to churn out a few festive-style posts! I'll share my Xmas faces and outfits with you later this week but, in the meantime, i wanna talk about PRESENTS!! With any luck, you'll all be super organised and won't need this post but i've had the chance to sample some gorgeous gift sets to appeal to all budgets and i thought i'd share them with you while you can still get next-day delivery! 

You all know i adore Nip+Fab products. I've featured their Pistachio Sundae body butter on this blog before and i have also had the opportunity to nosey through their Xmas gift sets, which are available from Sainsbury's Stores, the Nip+Fab Website and other concessions with prices starting from just a FIVER! Perfect for even Secret-Santa price brackets (or just a cheeky Xmas pamper treat for yourself whilst doing the food shop). I've been using the Hand Fix kit which includes a Hand Cream (which has the same yummy pistachio scent as the body butter) and a cuticle cream as well as some rather fetching gloves to help it all sink in. I've really been enjoying using it! 

Other sets from the range include Party Rescue, Chill-Out Bathing, Facial on The Go and loads more! Also their body butters and lip balms make great stocking fillers!! 

If you want to REALLY spoil someone and go that extra mile, i'd highly recommend this kit from Murad Skincare. I've mentioned it before and plan to review a couple of the products individually, but Murad have brought out 3 different variants for Xmas this year. The one i have been using is Perfect Balance, but also available are Radiance Perfection and The Hybrids. These sets range in price from £30 up to £50 and are available from the Murad Website as well as their department store concessions. I'd highly recommend the Perfect Balance for anyone with combination skin. 

In reference to my post from last week on Nails Inc, i just HAD to include these amazing gift sets in this post. Scroll down to read about how much i loved my leather and skull manicure from the event, but if you want to spoil your best friend or sister this Xmas i'd highly recommend these gift sets! Priced at £19 you get a leather effect polish (choice of 2 shades) and 4 beautiful little rhinestone skull decals (which actually stay on VERY well). Nails Inc are also doing other gift sets similar to this so check out their Website or go along to one of their stores or concessions. 

I couldn't do a gift post without mentioning BeneFit could i?! Their products and packaging is special enough at other times of the year but they come into their own at Xmas and this year's gift sets are really lovely and I WANT THEM ALL!! I got to nosey through a few at the QVC press day i attended recently and i'd have to say my favourites are 'Feelin Dandy' (which contains miniatures of their Dandelion powder and lipgloss as well as other treats) and 'How to Look the Best at Everything' (containing their Ideal Flawless Foundation, Porefessional Primer and Boi-Ing Concealers). 

You probably know where to find BeneFit so i won't insult your intelligence by listing ALL the stockists for you but they're regular in all the major department stores, larger Boots stores and on the BeneFit Website. Beautiful on anyone's dressing table! 

So this hasn't been an EPIC Xmas Gift Guide by any means, but i just thought i'd let you know about a few products i've had the chance to try and some which are on MY list to Santa this year. There's still time for online ordering or a quick dash round Debenhams before the big day so treat someone special (or yourself) to one of these little beauties!! 

Getting in the Xmas Spirit with Motel!

Hello again!

I've had the maddest, busiest week i've had in a LONG time this week! I attended some AMAZING events, which i am only just now starting to be able to write up because, as well as events, having friends visiting from back home and work, i am actually bloody EXHAUSTED!! But it's been so much fun and i've seen some amazing and exciting things. So here's the first installment of my crazy week! 

I was invited to go along to the Motel Rocks Xmas Bloggers' Party on Monday night, held at Floripa bar in Shoreditch! I went along with Alice as we'd been to other events together that night also (more on them to follow later this week). I'm so glad i was able to go as i got to catch up with a few blogging faces that i hadn't seen for way too long! I also got to see the latest booty from Motel along with pretty makeup from MyFace cosmetics and some practical hair demonstrations from someone VERY exciting indeed........

 What I Wore......

Playsuit: River Island

Belt: Primark

Brooch: Came with playsuit

Eyes: Sleek Avoir La Peche Palette, Maybelline Gel Liner, 17 Peep Show Mascara

Lipstick: MAC Chatterbox

Hair Extensions: Halo

I had a good old rummage through all the clothes on display. I'm now totally obsessed with getting myself some velvet trousers as they looked sooooo warm and comfy and PERFECT for the party season. I also loved the long-sleeved playsuits that were on offer in several different colours, but i think my ultimate lust item from the evening has to be the studded biker jacket (see top left above).

First thing Alice and i did when we got there (after furnishing ourselves with a cocktail of course) was make a beeline for the photobooth. Gotta love a photobooth! There were all manner of Xmas and other themed fancy dress items to choose from. I went as Santa Claus/Dame Edna haha! Don't we look like a pair of NUTTERS ;P

Now HERE is the highlight of the night, and year, for me! I got to be face to face with one of my all time most respected hair gurus, Mr Lee Stafford HIMSELF!! As a stylist myself, i got a bit giddy and may have attacked him a little bit for this photo. I had all kinds of questions for him, but he was very busy making lots of ladies look gorgeous so we had to part (sob). 

Motel did a fantastic job on the night! I think we got there a little after the main action had died down, unfortunately, but there was still plenty to see and bloggers to chat to and PRESENTS! I went home with some adorably gift-wrapped So...? perfumes that i haven't had since i was a teenager! They're lovely! Thank you Motel Rocks! 

To see all the latest collections from Motel visit their website HERE! They've got all your Xmas party wear requirements sorted! I think i'll be ordering that playsuit in the not too distant future! 

Xmas MakeUp Look #2: Bright Eyes and Bold Lips

Evening my lovelies!!

Blogging late again tonight. Not a good habit to get into but i overdid it a bit over the weekend and have been sleeping a LOT in the day over the last couple of days. As a result..... Insomnia at night. Silly silly me ignoring my doctors orders! 

Anyways, to combat this insomnia i have spent quite a bit of time in my PJs, watching CSI and playing with my makeup stash, trying to come up with some festive looks for you all. In my previous post i concentrated mainly on the eyes (as it was all about the eye palette) so tonight i am blogging to show you a look in which the lips are the main feature. This morning i received the Sleek Berry Collection that i had ordered and i couldn't wait to play with it. I will post a full review with swatches in due course but I thought i'd share with you this look first....

I wanted this set because i've been so scared of reds and berry colours for so long, but have been so curious lately and when i saw this gorgeous little Christmas set from Sleek i just HAD to treat myself to it, Little gift to myself i suppose. For £10 i think it's a BARGAIN!! As you will see from the photos i am still practising and, despite using the pencil to line my lips the colour HAS bled a little, but for a first attempt at such a bold colour i don't think i did bad. I am a virgin after all!

(NB. Ignore the eyebrows, they are due for de-fuzzing along with the rest of my face on Xmas eve haha)

Here's what i used...

Face: Max Factor Xperience in 75 (Brown Hessian)

MAC MSFN in Medium Plus

Cheeks: Sleek Blush in Fenberry (Berry Collection)

Sleek Contour Kit in Medium (highlight shade only)

Eyes: Sin, Buck and Hustle from the UD Naked Palette

VIVO Cosmetics Black Kohl pencil with Smudger

Rimmel Day2Night Mascara (lengthening wand)

BeneFit BrowZings in Medium

Lips: Sleek Kohl pencil in Mossberry (to line the lips)

Sleek True Colour Lipstick in Cranberry (Matte)

Too Faced Lip Injection (as a clear gloss over the top)

For those of you without a Naked Palette, this eye look would work just as well with the MUA Heaven&Earth palette. I wanted to keep the eyes simple, neutral and bright to keep the focus on the lips. I'm thinking i might wear this look for Christmas lunch with the family as we are going out for it this year, but this could just as easily work as an evening look, with a little extra eye kohl or winged gel liner and false lashes. I still don't think i'd go too OTT or dark on the eyes though as the lips really carry the look. I think it looks better that the rest of the face is kept natural with glowy cheeks. Perfect for winter!

What colours are you going crazy for this festive season?? What have you treated yourself to?? 

MUA Immaculate Collection: Review, Swatches and Xmas PARTY Eyes!

Afternoon ladies!

I'm blogging today to show you the second part of my little MUA haul from last week. If you missed my first post all about the 'Out There' Plumping Glosses you can find that post HERE! 

As we probably are all aware now, with all the posts popping up everywhere about it, MUA are currently giving their 24 shadow Immaculate Collection palette away for FREE when you spend £8 on their products. This is available right through until the 3rd of January so any spare Xmas pennies are definitely well spent on the MUA site. 

For this post i have had a thorough play with the palette and come up with a review, swatches and a fabulous purple/gold Xmas party make up look using the colours. Hope you like!!

Ain't it a BEAUT!!! There are 24 shadows here, which is WAY more than you would get in any Urban Decay palette AND this baby will only set you back £8 (or nothing if you take advantage of the current offer). There's something for EVERYONE in here. Matte shades, shimmer shades, neutrals, brights, metallics.... Nothing has been left out. They have included a colour key on the back of this palette with all the shades represented by numbers, which makes it a LOT easier in terms of blogging and tutorials! And i have swatched them ALL for your viewing pleasure.... (please note i have not numbered the swatches as they are swatched exactly as they appear in the palette so i figured numbering to be a pointless exercise).

 Top Row

 Middle Row

Bottom Row

On the whole these shades are highly pigmented and the consistency is not to be grumbled at. I was pleased that, just like my Heaven&Earth palette, they were no effort to swatch or apply with a buttery texture. I really like MUA as a brand because i think they are just such AMAZING value for money yet can rival most higher priced brands with quality and pigmentation. However i DO have one quite major RANT about this palette...

I was so pleased that this palette contained both shimmer AND matte shades and some of the shades which REALLY caught my eye after just looking at the colours were shade 13, shade 16 and shade 23 because they were matte. But can you get a swatch out of them?? Can you HECK!! These shadows REFUSE to leave their pan. I couldn't get a swatch with my finger, with the sponge applicator OR with a brush. I tried it wet, dry, you name it. In the end i had to REALLY rough them up to get a semi decent swatch, which has ruined the look of my palette a little but i'll live with it for the sake of my blog. I probably dont need to point out which ones they are from the above photos because they look PATHETIC in comparison to the others. Similar on the eyes too. For the look i have done for this post i tried to use shade 13 but it just didnt deposit any colour onto the eye so i gave up on that one. 

BUT for 3 shades out of 24 i still think this palette is a MAJOR winner and well worth it's money!! 

And here's the Purple/Gold Christmas Party Eye look that i created with it last night....

MASSIVE LASHES!!! Bit OTT but i wanted drama hehe... These photos were taken using flash as i was short of light. The true result is still dramatic, but a bit softer and not quite so RAWR haha.

Sooooo here's what i used....

 Urban Decay Primer Potion
MUA Shade 14 (all over the lid)
MUA Shade 24 (on the outer lid and through the crease - blended as i went along)
MUA Shade 7 (right in the crease and to line the outer parts of the eyes - winged out slightly then blended into the purple)
I then blended all three shades along the lower lashline and added Avon Supershock Gel liner pencil in the waterline and upper lashline (avoiding the inner corners)
I finished off by adding more shade 14 to the inner corners and a couple of coats of Urban Decay Curling Mascara.
The Eyelashes i used (just in case you're feeling dramatic) were Eylure 101

I really love purples at the moment and, as i have green eyes i am happy to use them as they make them go POP!! The shadows were very easy to work with and very blendable. There is a little fallout, especially from the gold shade (as you can see from the close up photo as that was BEFORE i had cleaned up) but you get fallout from even the most expensive of palettes, in my experience. A bit of foundation or concealer is all that is needed to restore harmony to the under-eyes.

To buy this palette and view the AMAZING full range of MUA products go to their website....
www.muastore.co.uk

Also click the box in the top right of my blog as MUA are hosting Giveaways EVERY DAY in the run up to Christmas, as well as showing Christmas inspired makeup and nail tutorials by the lovely Karla for you all to recreate and get in the festive spirit.

What colours are you loving this Xmas?? What have you been wearing to your Xmas parties??