Spring Make-Up Look

This is a look I'm loving at the moment, a hint of colour around the eyes, and a pop on the lips.

Now the sun is shining more often, and the sky is blue it's the perfect time to freshen up make-up wise.

On the base I used my usual Avon cream to powder foundation with concealer for the red bits and darker circles.

I used MUA eye shadows on the lid. I started with a sweep of lilac over the lid and accented with a teal/green colour in the crease - both are from the Immaculate Collection, which I then blended out. Instead of eyeliner, I used Penny from the Ever After palette.

The mascara is brown/black Aero Volume by Avon. The blush is a mosaic one by MUA.

On the lips I used Showy Flamboyant by Revlon.

5 Minute Spring Make Up

The mornings are starting to get that bit brighter, and the weather has finally appeared to turn a corner... just wait, now I've said that the snow is going to fall in earnest isn't it?

This is a quick look suitable for busy mums on the school run and for work too.

Starting with my usual base, I use Avon's ideal flawless cream-to-powder foundation in Shell and primer in light beige. I also use the primer as a concealer.

On my eyes I used the MUA Immaculate Collection palette. I used shade 18 on the inner corner, swept shade 12 over the lid and finished off with shade 2 in the crease. I added a little shade 14 to add a bit of a bronze sparkle to keep it on trend. Eyeliner is Avon's blackest black glimmerstick and mascara is Avon's Mega Effects. Usually I would also fill in my brows at this point, but as I recently had them tinted I tamed them with a bit of wax.

On the cheeks I added Avon's blusher bronzer duo in pink glow.
On my lips I used the glow 3-in-1 stick and topped with a coral lip gloss.

The Finished Look

The products I used:

You can see by the photo how much I have used the Immaculate Collection palette, I love it and love the fact that they have re-released it for spring. You can get your palette here http://www.muastore.co.uk/24-shade-immaculate-collection-palette-24-shade-immaculate-collection-palette or at Superdrug.

It's great value and you can create so many different looks very easily and the colours last well too.

A 1940s-style look

I have a thing about rock-a-billy and vintage hair and make up.

I'm totally self-taught mainly through lots of youtube videos. Cherry Dollface is one of my favourites. For this reason.

The make up I used, cashmere foundation by Avon, the matte pallete by MUA, liquid eyeliner from No17, blush is petal by Barbara Daly and lipstick is No17 Red Chilli.

For the hair I back combed at the temples for some control and to anchor my combs into, and I twisted to make faux victory rolls.

This was a quick look, smart and easy. Suitable for everyday and one I use in the office (I then usually will pin my fringe back for that one).

Christmas is Truly Over

Today the masses will be returning to work.

So I thought I'd share what I wore to work on my first day back after the festive period. Like many of us I indulged a little bit too much so most of my work wardrobe was on the uncomfortable to sit down in side of tight.

I found these leggings in the sale on the Yours website... I love them, really long in the leg (they're actually baggy around the ankle - unheard of for me at 5' 101/2 with a 32-33" leg). I'm also loving the addition of an attached skirt detail. It could have done to be a little bit longer, but then as I say I'm tall so you have to take the rough with the smooth, and it's over leggings so my knick-knack paddy whacks aren't going to be on display.

The shirt I have had for a couple of years now, it's a coral check with a bodice tie at the back so you can alter it to fit your shape if you yo-yo like I have a tendency to.

As for my hair, I've gone down the rock-a-billy route which I love for work. I spend a lot of my day looking down at my desk, working with a red pen, so I like to have my hair away from my face. Otherwise, I won't be able to see for my hair! The ponytail does lend to me sticking my pens in it from time to time.

Make up is minimal today, I have my vintage frames on. I'm still loving the MUA Matte Palette, I'm eeking to the end of my Rimmel eyeliner... I reckon there should be about a week of use left in there, and my blush is Barbara Daly in Petal. Base is Tesco Concealer in Fair and my George powder.

Family Christmas Make up and Hair

Family parties are rife this time of year. We spent ours with my inlaws.

So I donned a shiny smokey eye, a hot pink lip and a textured top knot for some extra height. Plus, I find when I have to bend over to see to my kids that having my hair down is a bit of a hindrance.

To make this look I used the following products:

Avon's BB cream in Nude, MUA blush in Shade 01, Avon's Lash & Line, Glimmerstick eyeliner in Blackest Black, Color trend lipstick in ???? and GOSH's eyebrow palette, the wax is a god send.

For my eyes I used the MUA Immaculate Collection Palette, I covered the eye in the white, the bottom lid with the silver and smoked out with the darker grey. For more depth I added the teal to the inner corner.

I love this palette so much, the only thing that would make it better would be to have more matte shades in there. There is only so much glitter a girl can cope with. 

Christmas Shopping

Like pretty much the rest of the world I've been shopping for some seasonal goods. 

Slightly under the weather, I battled the stand-still traffic of Hull Road to get into York's city centre for a bit of a festive meander. 

First I went for a look around New Look, I've been loving the Christmas jumper selection there this year, I saw three that I loved and couldn't decide which to buy, so went off to McDonalds for a Hot Mocha while I made my mind up. I finally decided on this sheepy number. It will have life after Christmas.

It's super soft, with the sheep's fleece being an eyelash yarn and a scoop neck. It will keep me nice and warm and snuggly.

I bought a few other bits and bobs, before I went on a window shopping and continued my mocha drinking mission in Starbucks, while waiting for the other half to meet me. 

I picked up these fantastic penguin ear muffs on a stall in Coney Street, and have pretty much been attached to my ears ever since. Blooming ear ache, one year I'll manage to not get sick either on the run up to, or on, Christmas.

I hightailed it over to Superdrug and found myself gazing in wonder at the Essie nail bar and the MUA counter, where I picked up the new matte eyeshadow palette Ever After. I've been hankering after this for a while. Then found some other items for my other half's stocking.

So far I'm thinking this will get used even more than my Heaven & Earth palette, which I hammered somewhat.

I then headed over to Poundworld to stock up for a children's party I was arranging and these cheeky items just jumped into my basket! I love the glass, it will be my wine glass of choice this season (even if right now it's only holding some Pepsi Max Cherry). 

I had a little bit of time leftover so I took to wandering around TK Maxx, Paperchase and Pylones, I love Pylones so much. So many funky little items. Not particularly useful ones, but oh so pretty and quirky. 

I really shouldn't leave it so long before I go into York again.