Sigma 12 Piece Essential Kit - Make Me Cool

A few weeks ago I decided that I should start my Christmas shopping. What actually happened was that I did begin Christmas shopping, it's just that I ended up buying presents for myself instead of others! 

Well, if you can't treat yourself at crimbo when can you?! 

One of the prezzies I bought is the 12 Piece Essential Brush Kit by Sigma in the colour Make Me Cool. 

I have wanted one of these sets for so long! So when Sigma were offering free delivery as part of their black Friday promotion, I snapped these up so fast...

Here comes a zillion pics - 

I actually love the packaging of this kit. The two sections clip together so you can take your brushes on your travels without damaging them. And then you can use the two sections to store your brushes at home. Brilliant! It's things like this that make me willing to spend the extra pennies. 

F30 - Large Powder

F50 - Duo Fibre

F40 - Large Angled Contour

F60 - Foundation

F70 - Concealer

E70 - Medium Angled Shading

E60 - Large Shader

E55 - Eye Shading

E40 - Tapered Blending

E65 - Small Angle

E30 - Pencil

E05 - Eye Liner

The kit also comes with this lil leaflet which tells you about each brush, and reccomendations on how to use them - 

I am in love with this kit. It contains every brush you will need to create any look you want. 

This kit costs $120, which is $10 a brush. Obvs. 

In English this translates to about £78, and when you think about what you're actually receiving, what a bargain!

Available in a variety of colours from Sigmabeauty.com.

Another thing that makes Sigma extra special, is that they throw in a free gift with every purchase over $30. I received a mini pink E05 eye liner brush. 

If you're anything like, who has loads of gel eye liner, but cant be bothered washing your eye liner brush every time you want to use a different colour, you'll be extra chuffed with this freebie!

Overall - I'm very impressed with Sigma. I love the brushes, I love the packaging, I love the freebie, I love the colour. It's all just super.

x

#TeamGrace

I have something a bit different for you today.

I work at a doctors surgery, and a few months ago in July of this year, one of the doctors children was diagnosed with an Osteosarcoma. This means that 7 year old Grace has a malignant tumor in her bone.

She underwent a 12 hour operation to remove the tumor and is currently half way through her treatment, which should finish in March 2013, providing there are no delays due to the side effects or infection. 

We are scheduling a climb up Mount Snowden for next year, and are having all kinds of other fund raising activities, raffles etc..

The charity that has been chosen by Grace's family is Candlelighters, a fund which goes towards treatment and recovery for the children, and making them more comfortable through such a tough time.

Please have a look at our Just Giving page HERE to find out some more deets!!

If you can support #TeamGrace in any way, I thank you so much!! And if not, I thank you for taking the time to read this blog :-)

xx

Paul & Joe Self Select Eyeshadows

Paul & Joe Self Select Eyeshadows are something that I've been after for a while now. As it was my birthday a few weeks ago, I thought it was time to treat myself!

How it works is, you buy your palette, then pick three eyeshadows of your choice to put in there. 

The packaging is, as per, beautiful! Even down to the little plastic covers that the shadow's come in. This is why I love P&J.

L-R #30 Plumage, #001 Under the Stars and #31 Chestnut.

Shadow #30 Plumage - a shimmery blue/green.

Shadow #001 Under the Stars - a multi glitter

Shadow #31 Chestnut - matte brown. Perfect crease colour!

Completed palette.

Texture of these shadows is just so amazing. They are super soft and easily blend-able. Paul & Joe do it again!

Shadows #30 + #31 cost £12.50 and shadow #001 is £9.99. The empty palette is £8.50 all from Beautybay.com.

x

Going Underground

One of my favourite things about London is the Underground system.

I went to visit some family with my parents a couple of weeks ago, and honestly, I think I had the most fun under ground all weekend!

I know a lot of people who are absolutely terrified of using the tube, and I can understand it. It's quite a complex place, with all the colours, directions, stations, and there is a LOT of people.

However, once you've been on a couple of times, and got your head round the rainbow of lines and squiggles, it really is easy peasy.

I think it is absolutely brilliant value for money though. We spent about £8 each and traveled all over London. You can basically hop on and off whenever and wherever you want, all day. (As long as you stay in Zones 1-5).

There really are some characters down there. Kinda like the mutant ninja turtles.

Visit Transport For London for more info.

Have fun!
x

Yves Rocher Lipstick in Framboise

Like many beauty obsessed peoples, I subscribe to a monthly beauty box. 
I'm into Glossybox, and so far I've been loving the products I've received.

Octobers box came this week and I have a lipstick to share with you from Yves Rocher!

The colour is an absolutely GORGEOUS pink toned red, which applies beautifully. It is soft and moisturising and has a lovely satin finish, but if you blot it down it has a beautiful velvet-y texture.

And it smells wonderful!

The Glossybox costs £12.95 a month (inc. delivery)and this lipstick retails at £14.50 so the whole entire thing becomes a bargain.

x 

Last Night I Watched...

WHAT'S YOUR NUMBER?

Yet another romcom, honestly don't know what's going on with that at the moment.

Stars of the show are Anna Faris, platinum Queen of comedy and Captain America himself, Chris Evans.

I must say, I was just expecting a bit of light, if predictable, relief, HOWEVER.

I actually really enjoyed What's Your Number. I found it refreshing and modern and above all funny, due to the exploits Ms. Faris.

So basically what happens is, girl is searching for 'the one'. Boy helping girl find said 'one'. Turns out boy is actually.....'the one'. 

Many hilarious adventures ensue.

Enjoy.

x

Paul & Joe Autumn Love Story Lipstick!

I actually am in love with Paul & Joe beauty. 
The products are so pretty, the packaging is to die for, and the quality of the products is just....

I've blogged about their nail polishes before now over at WellNailed, but I decided after seeing the new lipsticks, that the time had come to expand my collection into other forms of cosmetics.

The collection is called Autumn Love Story for 2012, and consists of lipstick refills for which you can choose your own case. Lipsticks come in three coverages, sheer, natural and full coverage, with a number of cases to pick from.

Go here to check out the collection - Paul-joe-beaute.com 

Here come some piccies of Venus, a limited edition natural coverage in case number 004.

Lipstick refills are £12.50 and cases are £5 and I bought mine from Beautybay.com

x

MUA cosmetics

Oooof, so I bought some bits from Muastore.co.uk/ and well, I am in love!

I went to Superdrug to buy one of the new Nail Constellations and of course they'd sold out, so I went online. I spent £18 (including delivery, and this is what I got....

The Artiste palette, 6 eyeshadows, 2 blushers, a bronzer and a highlighter. £6.00!

Cream Blush in Dolly. £2.00

Nail Polish in Stormy Skies £1.00

Nail Polish in Frozen Yoghurt £1.00

Nail Constellation in Scorpio £3.00

Lashes in Vixen £2.00

I'm super impressed with MUA, two days from order to delivery!! TWO DAYS!

Look out for Nail Constellations on WellNailed soon!

*All pics from MUA website*

x

Today I bought...

...well not really today, but it came in the post today. So that counts.

I got a new watch.

I've been sick of constantly having to root around to find my phone in my Mary Poppins like cavernous bag to find out what time it is.

I used to wear a watch in my last job, but that was mainly so I knew exactly how many minutes 'till home time!

I bought a Swatch, Chrono Full-Blooded in Smoky Blue

Pretty.

Probably for dudes, but I couldn't care less.

I like to be able to actually see the time on my watch not have to guess like you you do on little girly watches! It's a stopwatch too. Oh yeah.

I love Swatch as a brand because I am a huge fan of the Swiss, as people and watch makers.

If you've ever been you'll know you can't go anywhere without coming across some of the most brilliant mechanical time piece contraptions you'll ever see. They're everywhere, and rightly so. 

I wanna go back so bad.....

Anyway, Full-Blooded Smoky Blue costs £105 and I bought mine from Swatch.com.

x 

Today I Bought...

....went TkMaxx didn't I. 

I bloody love it in there, and I got some right bargains!

Nails Inc set of 4 polishes, which includes the colours -

-Westminster
-Hampstead Gardens
-Old Park Lane and
-New King's Road

These polishes normally retail at £11 each making the set £44.
HOWEVER, at TkMaxx I snagged the set for the princely sum of £12.99!

I know.

Swatches will be on http://wellnailed.blogspot.com v.soon :-)
(That's my nail blog btw)

The other thing I picked up is a TooFaced eye shadow duo in Fantasy Island.

This little baby should have set me back £17, and it was in fact £3.99. AMAZE.

Thanks for coming...
x

This Weekend I Watched...

...shit loads.

First up is THE GREEN MILE.

I decided to finally give this a look after the sad passing of Michael Clarke Duncan...R.I.P.

This is one of the most beautiful yet baffling films I have ever watched. 

Doing what's right vs doing what's expected.

Inner turmoil, all that jazz.

I definitely cried. A lot.

Next up was SALMON FISHING IN THE YEMEN.

Favourite film of the weekend. Easy.

Such a great 'love conquers all' story. Accomplishing anything you set your mind too etc. 

I cried at this too.

You should probably know that I don't usually cry at films.

Broke Back Mountain - no

Titanic - no

Although I did cry at The House Bunny which was weird.

Finally, I watched PRETTY WOMAN

I really enjoyed this film, and MY GOD I wish it was my life!

Apart from the prostitute part. Obviously.

If you want to feel like all men aren't complete douchebags, try this ;-)

x

The Countdown Is On....

....to London Fashion Week!

With NYFW currently in full swing, I'm getting excited to see what London has to offer!

I like to think we win at fashion in the UK.

Spring/Summer 2013 shows begin on Friiday 14th of September with Antoni & Alison and go through to Tuesday 18th with the Fashion Fringe show. 

Shows are being held at the GORGEOUS Somerset House...

I'm looking forward to checking out
-Sass & Bide
-Holly Fulton
-Dame Viv, obviously
-Giles
-Mulberry and
-Meadham Kirchhoff

If anyone wants to actually take me to an actual real life show...

Check out the deets at Londonfashionweek.co.uk/.

x