Friday 30 August 2013

My First Ever YouTube Video

Finnaly, I have done it, this is my first ever video. 
I hope that you like it and please let my know your thoughts.



-Ruby x

Sunday 25 August 2013

Update!

Ahhh I'm soo excited!!!
I just wanted to update on something which I had wanted to happen for a very long time but nothing ever seemed to fall into place. I may be able to upload my first ever YouTube video by the end of the week! All I need to do is charge my video camera. The lighting is perfect, my setup is great and I have some ideas for content! Literally all it comes down to now is being able to edit the video and pray that it will upload alright.

Get ready!
- Ruby

Smoky Eye Tutorial!

It's been a while since I have done a tutorial and I think I'm a little overdue. It's late but I've got my coffee and I'm ready to go!


Currently it's 11:20pm and I'm just about to get started :) Here we go!

Obviously we need to start off with a clean and fresh base canvas to work on.

I have just used Boots Essential Cucumber Eye Make-up Remover which is nice and gentle and also has a very soothing effect.

I have already done my brows before I got started just to save a little time.

Also a little note, you will have to excuse the state of my skin - I't having a little melt down and I'm suffering from a few annoying blemishes :/
 Right, so I have applied a primer before I get started. 

I have used Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer. This primer is particularly useful if you have a little redness around the eyes as it has a nude pigment.

You can use any primer and usually I would use Urban Decay Primer Potion but as I do have redness I decided to change it up a little.













I am solely using my Urban Decay Naked palette for this tutorial and first of all I am covering my lid with 'Naked'. This is probably my most used colour because it is so versatile. This helps even out the colour of my lid and provide a base for the other colours I will use.



I have then applied 'Buck' which is a slightly darker shade onto the outer corner/crease. This helps build the colour and intensify the darker colours.

 
Next is 'Smog'. This is a bronze shade which I have applied from outer to mid lid. There are actually only 2 matte colours in this palette (Naked and Buck).

 I then used 'Darkhorse' which apparently I didn't not take a picture of :/

But it's a lovely dark bronze colour :)

 I did take a picture of the next one! The darkest colour is 'Creep'. It's a shimmery black and to be honest the photo makes it look less intense than it actually is!




The arrangement of these photos are going to come out a little strange but in this one I have applied 2 at once! I'm really good at this haha.

Any way, I have 'Virgin' on my browbone and 'Half Baked' on my inner corner. They are both shimmery so I have only used a small amount.


 

 I had a bit of a decision on whether to use gel or liquid eyeliner, but I chose gel because personally I think it wears better and I have better control especially when doing a wing :)

I took a black eyeliner pencil and tight-lined my eyes. To do this you fill in the upper lashline, this helps make your lashes look fuller and longer when applying mascara.

It's a little difficult to do at first but you just need to get used to having something that close to your eye. I personally think it's a lot more sensitive than the lower lash line. I twitched a lot when I first tried it and made an absolute mess haha!

 Before applying mascara it's important to curl your lashes. This helps lengthen your lashes once you've applied mascara as you can see more of the lash.















Finally apply your mascara. I chose to use Lancome Hypnose Star and Lancome Hypnose. I recommend using 2 mascaras to help both lengthen and volumise your mascaras. I find that I have different mascaras that are good at doing one or the other to using both means you get the best effect.

You want to be sure that you don't over do the amount you apply of either mascara, you might end up with clumpy lashes and that's not a good look for anyone!








Let me know if you liked this tutorial and keep an eye out for more to come!

- Ruby x

Sunday 11 August 2013

Maybelline Baby Lips!

Eventually today I had managed to get my hands on one of the Baby Lips lip balms by Maybelline. I have never seen these being sold at any of the Maybelline stands around where I live and to be honest there weren't many to choose from when I did find them.

There was only the choice of 2. Either the mint balm or the intense care balm, I chose the latter.
They were only £2.99! So much more inexpensive than I thought they were going to be.
There wasn't any of the tinted balms otherwise I would have gone for one of those but I really wanted to try one so really I didn't care which one I got to try first.
I have literally only had this for about 4/5 hours and I have not stopped using it.

I love the packaging too, it's quite simple but cute and I just want to get more just because I reckon they would look great on display haha!

I am so glad that I have this now, to be honest I really needed a good lip balm and as to whether it actually does any good is to be seen but I am hopeful for this product and I will probably be buying more of these in the future. I seriously recommend this to anyone who is after a cheap lipbalm.

-Ruby

Saturday 3 August 2013

July Favourites!

I thought that because it's the start of August it would be a great time to do my first ever favourites post :) I know that I have posted about some of these items a few times but they are my favourites. Some of these products I haven't mentioned before and I have only just started testing them out. Who knows, they may feature in my August favourites :)

Hair Care!

Product: Phil Smith Total Treat Argan Oil Cream
RRP: £10.99 per 100ml

I have this in the sample size because it came free with a magazine but I think it's a fantastic way to get introduced to new products that you probably haven't tried or even heard of before.

I have been using this religiously for the past few months and it has made my hair so much smoother and softer. My hair was quite damaged before hand and a combination of getting it cut and taking more care has really helped fix my hair.

I would totally recommend this if you don't like the feel of argan oil on your hands and you need a good hair treatment. It's inexpensive and totally worth it!



Product: Bumble and bumble Hair Thickening Spray
RRP: £21.50 per 250ml

This is another sample size I managed to get from a magazine, this came from the August 2013 issue of ELLE and I have wanted to try Bumble and bumble products for a while but I think there have been very mixed reviews on some of their products and they are a little expensive for my budget.

I have used this a few times in the past week and I really like the results that I get from the product. It's something that everyone can use, it says thickening pray but if you use it on thick hair it's not like your going to end up with an uncontrollable mass, it just helps set your hair with a bit of volume.




Skincare!


Product(s): Clinique - Moisture Surge, All About Eyes and Anti - Blemish Solutions Spot Treatment Gel
RRP: £32.00 (Moisure Surge), £25.00 per 15ml (All About Eyes) and £14.00(Anti - Blemish Solutions Spot Treatment Gel)

I have put these all together because I always use them together. I love the spot treatment because it literally clears spot in days. The moisture sure is soo hydrating and non greasy and the all about eyes does feel a little greasy but it hydrates perfectly and your going to wash your face in the morning anyway! It just does wonders for my skin and my face feels brighter, more even and just all round better because of these products. I can with out a doubt say that I will but the full size/ repurchase these products. They are just so amazing! I would always get a consultation from Clinique before buying anything, they will know what you need.


Make-up!!!

Product: Urban Decay Naked Palette
RRP: £36.00

I am in love with this product and will be buying Naked 2 as soon as I can afford it. 12 colours means that you can find really versatile looks. You can make really natural day looks or dark smoky night time looks. I know that some people were disappointed because there are only 2 matte colours but that really doesn't bother me and in fact I think pearl/shimmer colours help give depth to your eyes.
They last so long as well, I use this practically every day for the last 6-8 months and I haven't even reached pan on a single colour. I really recommend this product if your searching for the perfect smoky look or want a good eyeshadow starter kit.


Product: Revlon Photoready Primer
RRP: £11.99

I had heard so many good things about this primer and up until about 4/5 months ago I had never used a primer on my face before. I realise now what a huge mistake that was. This is great for making your skin matte and smooth which is what I desperately needed. I would say that the combination of this primer and a setting spray will help your make-up last all day/night.

Product: Smashbox Photo Finish Lid Primer
RRP: £15.00

I've been using the Urban Decay Primer Potion for a while but my sample size is running out :(
I found a Smashbox starter kit which was £19.00 which is great because I had wanted to try Smas box for a while and if I got to get a little sample of their products then I could make a decision on whether to purchase more of their products. I really like this primer, it is pigmented with a nude beige colour which I like because I can wear it by itself. It isn't as liquidy as UDs but I think it provides a great base for my eyeshadow.
Product: Lancome Hypnose Mascara
RRP: £22

Love this mascara!!! It's soo lightweight and buildable. I have found with some mascaras that once its applied it dries rock solid but with this, the formula is so soft and smooth that you can apply it in the morning and re apply later in the day and it doesn't hurt. The brush is also quite soft so it's really gentle on eyelashes. The black is really intense so it really stands out and makes your lashes look so long. I will buy a full size of this when I run out.

Product: Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara
RRP: £22

I'm not sure if the formula is the same as the original hypnose or not but they both feel the same. The brush, however is much different, It is a flat tapered brush which lengthens and volumises when used correctly. I would say that I would buy this again but I think I'd like to try other Lancome mascaras as well.

Product: Smashbox Full Exposure Mascara
RRP: £18.00

I actually managed to get this for £2 because of a charity lucky dip they were doing! The brush on this is huge but really does a nice job of coating and lengthening my lashes. This also had a soft formula so you can reapply later.

I possibly won't buy this again and it wasn't because I don't like it because I really do, it's because they have other mascaras which I want to try and because I have so many other mascaras.

Well that's it for my July favourites and I really hope that you enjoyed reading this. Let me know what your favourites are, I might try them and they could be featured in a future favourites post.

- Ruby