Secret Beauty Blog -

I’m back! Sorry for the short hiatus, personal issues sometimes get in the way of blogging but I’m back now and have lots planned

As soon as I heard about the Illamasqua Skin Base foundation I desperately wanted to get my hands on it, it sounded exactly what I was looking for in a foundation and I needed a new eyeliner so that’s how this accidental haul came about.

From L-R
Pressed powder in PP 120 £19.50
Nail varnish in Lament £13.50
Skin Base foundation in SB 06
Cream blusher in Dixie £16.50
Precision Ink in Abyss £17.00

As you can see I’m really into coral at the moment!

Nail polish in Lament
Illamasqua nail polish is the best EVER! The formula is amazing, the brush is amazing, the lasting power is amazing… Just everything is amazing!

Cream blusher in Dixie

Dixie swatched in natural sunlight
Absolutely love this! I suits my colouring so well, and it has more slip and it slightly sheerer then the other Illamasqua cream blushers I own which makes it a lot more wearable as I don’t have to spend as much time blending and applying.
I’ve had everything a little while now so I’m able to give a short review on everything -
Skin Base …

Happy Chinese new year! To revel in the celebrations, the boy and I took a trip to the west end thinking we would indulge in a cheeky Chinese feast and see what was going on. EVERY restaurant was packed, so unfortunately we didn’t end up having Chinese but I did manage to make a few pit stops in Boots, John Lewis & Illamasqua to pick up these beauties!

I had nearly £100 in Boots Advantage card points so skipped over to the Chanel counter to pick up the Ombres Perlees de Chanel palette but of course, they were out of stock! I didn’t realise how much I wanted it until I swatched it, the colours are absolutely beautiful and are soo smooth and creamy. I gulped at the £39 price tag but I really fell in love with it, in the end I got it from John Lewis (where they have stock of everything, FYI). In the end I just got the Black Pearl polish and Benefit’s Bella Bamba from Boots, I still have quite a few points left so I’ll save them for a rainy day..
Some of you may know I like to dress up as zombie in …

I had waited SOO LONG for Cham-Pale to get online, ever since seeing the swatches on Temptalia. I’ve definately moved onto the more neutral side with my make up, and the light tones and subtle sparkle which make up the collection are definitely up my street.
Anyway here’s what I got!

From Cham-Pale
Highlighting Powder – Rose Ole & Chez Chez Lame £20.50
Paint Pot – Vintage Selection £13.50
Nail Polish – Soiree £9.00
From Stylishly Yours
Beauty Powder – Too Chic & Play it Proper £18.50
Creme Colour Base – Virgin Isle £13.50
From the permanent line
Nail Polish – Shirelle £9.00

First thoughts – I LOVE the Creme Colour Base, it’s absolutely beautiful! I think the Beauty Powders will be going back they’re very sheer and a bit boring if I’m honest. The Paint Pot IS very glittery, so if you’re after something light to use as an eye shadow base you might be better off with something from the permanent line as the shimmer tends to make the Cham-Pale paint pots a little chalky in comparison.
The Highlighting Powders are my stand outs from Cham-Pale and are really beautiful, I don’t have anything like these but I can imagine they are easily dupable as they are just a basic …

So I’ve been lusting after the D&G nude palette after seeing Lorraine Stanick praising it up in one of her videos and stalking the D&G website daily. Although I live fairly close to central London I HATE going uptown if I don’t really need to. The tube is horrible, cramped and stinky and I always get super stressed… But alas, I braved the crowds with my boyfriend and skipped merrily into Harrods to the D&G counter =)
The SA was very keen, and couldn’t help me enough. Although I wish she had left me alone to have a play, instead of playing  jack in the box behind the stand =0/ I had a good swatch of the nude palette but this lil beauty is definately more me! The Mediterraneo quad is the perfect neutral eye palette, the gold is simply stunning! I also picked up the Classic Cream lipstick in Nude because I’m a sucker for a nude lippie and this doesn’t disappoint.

So what do you think?
At £35 for the quad and £20 for the lipstick they don’t come cheap. I am so impressed with the quality, and everything about the line just screams luxury. This is the start …

I love Inglot! A huge variety of products (alot of unique products you don’t see often!)  a huge selection of shades and all very reasonably priced. It’s a shame there isn’t many stores about, if they was to open an online store they would definately give MAC a run for their money! The store in Westfield shopping centre is always empty, which I always found a bit strange as MAC is always HEAVING… Sometimes a ‘one in one out’ roped off jobbie =0/. I must admit I went to Westfield before I started blogging and did have a nosey in Inglot, but as I had never heard of the brand before I didn’t pay too much attention and didn’t purchase anything. Now the second time round, I made sure I did my research and came away with some right gems =D

Very sleek packaging, I think one of the freedom palettes would make a lovely gift

I’m really sorry but I didn’t make a note of the shades in my freedom palette =(
They are very ‘me’ shades and I think I chose quite well out of the hundreds (maybe) that were there! You can choose all kinds of palettes from …

Im a bit 50/50 on Illamasqua, it gets such rave reviews and there are alot of fans but I still can’t seem to love the brand like how I love MAC. I love the look of the website, I love the collection ideas and the S.O.P.H.I.E campaign but for some reason nothing gets me excited enough to part with my cash… Unless there’s a sale. Which there was.
I couldn’t help but indulge a little when I saw they was selling their discontinued items at 50% off, here’s what I picked up:

Nail polish (L – R) Hectic, Demure, Jo’Mina
Blusher in Rumour
Pure Pigment in Lust
Sheer Lipgloss in Explode

Swatched with no primer, just look at that pigment!
Pure Pigment in Lust – Blusher in Rumour – Sheer Lipgloss in Explode
First impressions? The nail polishes are gorgeous, but I still wouldn’t pay £13 for one, thats just too much IMO.
The blusher is like hot chocolate powder! Buttery soft and very pigmented. Reminds me of my favourite blusher ever, No.7 Honey. I can see myself using, and loving this alot
The Pure Pigment is stunning, highly pigmented and an amazing lime green, similar to MAC Juxt and we all know how much I love me …

Had a meeting with Bossman uptown on Thursday! He forced 3 cocktails down my neck in the Radisson then threw me in Selfridges and said I weren’t to leave until I had bought myself something as I don’t treat myself enough… Yeah, I don’t know what he had been smoking either!

Here are my wares =D

I had to get the Clinique High Lenghts mascara after seeing it on Charlottes blog, I’ve been looking for a really good lengthening mascara so hopefully this will work just as good for me!

I was just about to pay when the SA informed me of the bonus gift I could get if I purchased a skincare item….. Who can resist a bonus gift! I also got a Dramatically Different moisturising gel as I have had it many times before and is perfect for the summer. The bonus gift included a DDM but the lotion formula (gave this to my mum), a 7 Day Scrub Cream, Deep Comfort Body Butter, Take The Day Off MU remover and an All About Eyes eye cream in a white makeup bag. Well worth it IMO!
The promotion is until the 27th June at various department stores, see …

I can’t remember who tweeted about this site, I think it was the ever cheeky Liloo but I took one look at the special offer swag and placed an order. I’ve often lusted after big dramatic eye looks using false eyelashes but have always been too shy to experiement… Also with most pairs of eyelashes coming in at around £6 it would be quite an expensive experiment!
Heres what I bought, all the lashes were £1 and the little tube of glue was 60p

Eyelashes Direct have hundreds of pairs of lashes to choose from, including human hair (eww?), feather, hologram, carnival, pre-glued and Mink lashes. I got mine from the ‘bargain basemen’ section of the site because I’m tight and in-experienced, but I’m sure there is something for everyone there!
Will use a pair in my next FOTD and give a full review =)

Sooooooooo Cherry Culture we’re having one of their fab sales, I think it was 25% off but I’m not too sure. All NYX was in the sale and the round lipsticks were just $1.99 so of course I had to snap them up! I also got a few eyeshadows, a blush and 2 cream blushers just because they were all so cheap…

So (not in order) I picked up the round lipsticks in Rose Bud, Athena, Sky Pink, Baby Pink, Chaos, Thalia, Jupiter, Sash & Ceto
Cream Blush in Tea Rose (left) & Golden
Blush in Nutmeg
Eyeshadows in Herb (left) & True Taupe
Heres a closer look at the lippies so you can see the shades, click to enlarge!

I already own a few NYX items, the famous jumbo pencils and a few lipsticks and I think the brand is fab for the money. It’s just a shame it’s not more easily available in the UK, most websites over here sell it for way above the RRP but cest la vie!
Do you own any NYX?

Hey you guys!
I know I don’t come on this shiznay that much anymore, I’m sorry =(. I’m just so busy with my work and stuff, and you all know how long it takes to write out a blog post… Edit pics…. Fannying about making sure you got your facts right (before some shitbitch puts you in your place…) Etc….
Anyway! I went into town today (just because the suns out it does not mean you can parade your manky feet and cellulite rippled thighs around in flip flops and hotpants!) URGH. Grossness. I popped into Boots to get a Barry M nail polish in pale pink as my nails are looking kinda rough right about now, and really don’t need anymore dark polish. I have been a good girl and kept them naked, bar a few coats of Sally Hansen nail strengthener. They don’t seem to be looking any better but meh, I think I might go for a professional manicure when I get paid to sort them out and get some proper products. Anyway, I got sidetracked  by the 17 stand as they were giving away a gorgeous lil free gift and I’m such a sucker for free …