Sunday 20 January 2013

Keeping Glam: Contour and Highlighting

Hey girl hey,

So today is just a quick one about my absolute favourite look ever which I wear pretty much every day and can change depending on what I'm wearing it to. Basically it's all about the contour and highlight. My love for cheekbones hit me hard last year and I've been blagging I have them ever since thanks to some wonderful little products.

I love both high end and high street products for creating this look and here are my favourites...

Firstly, for anyone who's on a budget or just wants something simple, Sleeks Face Contour kit. It's ridiculously cheap at £6.49 and comes in 3 different shades, making it pretty accessible for most people. The kit comes in a compact form with both a powder contour colour and powder highlight, complete with a good sized mirror which is always handy for topping up whilst out. The contour colour is gorgeous and I've actually used it all over the face when I've forgotten my bronzer as it isn't too heavy but is very easy to build. The highlight is peach toned but is very glittery and pigmented so it is better for a heavier look and not so much for natural every day make-up. I absolutely love this product and have repurchased twice and would highly recommend it to anyone who's interesting in having a play round with contour.


Secondly, my most used duo for contour and highlight is Benefit's Hoola bronzer and Highbeam liquid. Hoola's around £28 and Highbeam is £18 but are both some of the most long lasting products I've ever used. I first received Hoola in 2010 and it has been my daily bronzer ever since, becoming my contour colour also in 2012 and I am now only just coming on to my fourth box now. I also received Highbeam for Christmas in 2011 and am still only about half way through the bottle. 


I've now moved into the magical world of cream contour and I can honestly say, it's one of my most favourite make-up products I've ever used. The "contour" I'm using however is actually a cream eyeshadow by Illamasqua in the shade 'Inhale'. It's a grey toned brown and it gives the most realistic looking shadow. 




When it comes to brushes, I first used the Mac 168 for contour and the side of the brush for highlight when using powder. I then moved onto the Real Techniques Blush Brush for contour as it gave a more natural effect because of the domed shape and it was also easier to blend with. I've now moved onto the Mac 109 for contour and the Real Techniques Contour brush from the Core Collction, for highlighting (I tried it for contour and in my opinion it didn't work as well) 




So that's it guys, I absolutely love everything about contouring and highlighting. It's so handy and personally anything that makes me feel a little bit more like a Victoria's Secret model is always welcome. Who doesn't want to look they have a more bronzed/sculpted/glowing face? 

Lot's of love
XOXO

Thursday 3 January 2013

Oh hey there 2013

Hello lovely's! 

                       Happy New Year! I hope you all had an absolutely gorgeous New Year's eve and drank lots and kissed lots and danced lots as everyone should on New Year's Eve. I had a lovely night with all my favourite people and truly welcomed 2013 in with a bang (there were fireworks, yay!). So that out of the way, I thought I'd make some resolutions for the coming 362 days (it's the 3rd today, I do know there's actually 365 days in a year, honest). I shan't say the silly things (lose 5 stone, smile all day every day, buy a unicorn etc) just the thing's I actually plan on doing to make this year truly wonderful. 


Firstly I plan on trying to do everything I want to do. That may sound silly but believe it or not, I tend to over think things way too much. So this year, I'm just going to try as much as possible to do what I want to whenever I can. Basically I'm just not going to over think anything and do what I want and if it doesn't work out then so be it. 

Secondly I'm not going to sweat the small stuff. This is basically a continuation of my first resolution but considering I'm a massive stress head, I think I just need to put it out there. I am so bad for stressing myself out over the simplest of things and towards the end of 2012 I was getting so much better at just chilling out, so I want to carry that on this year and be as calm as possible, yay!


Thirdly I want to take more photos. I am so bad at getting all dressed up and planning a big night out and then not taking any photos to actually document the occasion, so this year I'm going to become completely snap happy and become the resident annoying girl with camera within my group of friends, how fun. 


And finally I'm going to finally get my tattoo. I've been wanting one for ages but I keep putting it off and being a major wimp but this year I'm getting it for definite and hopefully it will be before my birthday (11th of February, buy me presents...), how very exciting. 


So that's my initial plans for this year and hopefully I can stick to them. 

Have you got any New Year's resolutions? Did you manage to stick to the ones you made for 2012? Let me know!

Speak soon lovelies! 


Izzi 
XOXO