Tuesday 25 November 2014

How to Dress Yourself Slimmer this Party Season

Christmas is coming, and to some that might strike fear into their heart as they think of all the parties, cocktails and dinners with the girls, nights out, Christmas dinners and twelve pubs outings it entails as they feel they need an outfit for every occasion. Some of us might also feel that we haven't reached our yearly goals of fitting into a certain dress size. Put down the meal replacement shakes and read on to find out how to dress yourself slimmer!

1. A deep V- neck top or dress will knock five pounds off you, especially if you have a larger bust as the V-neck draws attention to the slimmest part of pear shaped or hourglass girls which is the waist. 
The dress below is one of my favourites. It is so flattering on the figure, it draws your eye towards the bust and in at the waist, and then it flares over hips. It is so comfortable as well, no need for Spanx with this dress! 
 

It's from River Island but I bought it in a sale a year or two ago, so sadly it is not available. I just used this picture to give a general idea. 

2. Another great thing to do if you are larger on your bottom half, hello BeyoncĂ©, is to wear a darker colour on the bottom and a brighter one on top. In the picture below the top half also has ruffles on the chest which helps to balance out a pear shaped body. 


I got this dress from New Look, they always have fabulous dresses in so it is worth having a look. 

3. Fit and flare dresses and those made from a heavier fabric are going to be more flattering on the figure, so as the ones below. 

This gorgeous red colour and the lovely cut out detail will also ensure you stand out at any Christmas parties, and it will be so flattering on and comfortable to wear. The three quarter length sleeves are great if you want to hide your arms, and the shape will be perfect on. This is from River Island, it retails at €60 and is available in a size 8-16. 
This dress has a stunning lace top part, with a keyhole cut out at the back and is very form fitting yet flattering, this is also River Island. It costs €45 and is available in a size 6-18. I think the prices for River Island dresses are well worth it, as if you buy classic shapes like this you can wear them multiple times.

4. Dresses with a contrast colour on the sides will work to pull your eye inwards. The black lace on the sides and in the middle will create a better shape to the eye. Even though it is body con, it is stretch fit and the sweetheart neckline means it will be very flattering on the upper body. However you will need to break out some shape wear for this. 

This dress is from New Look available in a size 6 to an 18, and it retails at €29.99. Bargain! 

5. Last but not least if you feel like you really have had just one too many Roses chocolates or mince pies it's time to have a look at swing dresses. They don't have to be dowdy in fact, I think this navy velvet and lace dress is gorgeous. It will be so comfy to dance the night away in. Also great for pregnant ladies, or those at the early stages of pregnancy. 


This dress is available online on riverisland.com for €53. They currently have a size 6, and then size 10-18 in stock. 

Don't forget your accessories to pull the whole look together you will need heels, a fitted jacket, a statement necklace or earrings and a clutch bag. These all work in creating the perfect body shape, it's like building blocks. 

                      

The jacket will maintain that shape even when covered up, the heels will give you height and strut, and the Jewellery will draw attention to your neck and collarbones. Et voila, you are Christmas party ready! 

Hope you liked some of my fashion choices girls, not something I blog about much but I hope this will help you all when you are getting glammed up! Definitely going to be treating myself to some of these beauties when I am away in Manchester for my birthday! Xx




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Friday 21 November 2014

The 10 eyeshadows every woman should have

This blog post can apply to all woman and specifically to makeup artists looking to build their kit and start from the basics. I built a ten shadow palette with Inglot using my 20% pro discount. It worked out very reasonably, I think if you fill the palette on the day the magnetic palette is free and usually the shadows are six euro each I think. I think I filled my palette for less than fifty euro although I can't remember the exact price - sorry!

Below are my top picks for the ten eyeshadows you need in a basic eye shadow collection and I will discuss why in a minute! 


I ever so generously labelled them all with the numbers of the shadows from Inglot as well to save you the trouble of hunting them all down because it is one thing that frustrates me with Inglot - their numbering system! I would much rather a name, and I think a name is easier to remember, but how and ever! 

A good combination of mattes and shimmers, and colours that will work with everyone's skin tone and the ability to create a day and night look are the things that I look for in a good eyeshadow palette. Sometimes all of these can be hard to done by, which is why making your own is a fantastic idea! 






Starting from the top left, number 395 is a shimmery gold highlighter which will work on the majority of skin tones. It can be used on the brow bone, in the inner corners of the eye and on the lid. 

Below that is a matte white (351) which is a good base colour, and also to highlight if you don't want shimmer. Shade 409 a shimmery brown is a good all rounder. Numbers 337 and 329 are a matte light brown and a matte dark brown respectively. These are your two shadows that will get the most use. Perfect colours to use in the crease and the lash line, I also used to double them up and use them wet with an angled brush to fill in my brows or to line my upper lash line. 

Now moving into the right hand side...

Shimmery pink (46) is an alternative to the gold as a highlighter and looks gorgeous in a coppery smoky eye on the lid. It doesn't look as sharp as the gold as the red, pink and copper all come from the same colour family. Shade 464 is my coppery orange shimmer. I was looking for a matte burnt orange when I was filling the palette but they were out of stock of the number I wanted so the girl talked me into using this glittery burnt orange colour, it isn't so sparkly on I swear and is fantastic for making blue eyes pop! 

Next up is a must have for a cranberry smoker coming up to those winter months! Number 55 is a sparkly cranberry shade which is great for a warmer take on the smoky eye, I also used this in a few Halloween looks. 

A matte dark purple almost aubergine is shade 326 which is great for the crease if you want to make blue or green eyes stand out and you want to change it up from your usual matte Browns. A quick look involving only three shadows is to run this back and forth in your crease with a pencil brush and into the upper and lower lash line, then pat the shimmery brown (409) onto your outer two thirds of your lid, and follow it on by highlighting your inner corners and brow bone with 395. 

And last but not least - a matte black in number 63 is a basic we should all have. It can be used to smoke up a look and also as a liner with an wet angled brush! 

Now I hope I didn't bore you with all the numbers girls! Inglot often hold special instore events for their customers offering 10% off on products purchased on the night so if you don't have a discount card it would be worth going in or holding out for them, I will announce them in my Facebook blog page as I hear of them. You can find my Facebook page here www.facebook.com/bloggingitbeautiful 

Happy shopping! Xx

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Wednesday 19 November 2014

Loreal true match foundation Review

   

Looking for a foundation that will hide a multitude? Look no further! I am in love with this loreal true match foundation and have wanted to blog about it forever but I have just been so busy with other non blogging related things this post went by the wayside! How and ever, I am just mad about this foundation. This is perfect for you if you are looking for something full coverage. 

The bottle reads 'super blendable' which is definitely true. Two light layers of this and it gives fantastic buildable coverage for flawless looking skin. 

It says it's matches skin colour and texture. I mix the two shades I have (Ivory and Rosy Vanilla) to get my perfect shade. It applies so smoothly and makes your skin feel like silk. To top it all off it has an SPF 17 and it really has a fantastic lasting power! 

Top tip: if you want to makeup your foundation go the extra mile, prepping your skin is key. Make sure your skin is as hydrated as possible with both a moisturiser and primer if it is anyway dry as girls who have a problem with their skin just drinking up all the makeup may just have dehydrated/dry skin. 

I use Laura mercier hydrating primer. It's fantastic but a little on the pricy side. Nivea express hydration primer is also a good budget option! 


Have you tried the loreal true match foundation? It is so fantastic and I bought it from Total Makeup Addicts blog sale at only ten euro for each bottle! They were both pretty much full as well. Definitely a must have for the makeup kit in my opinion! 




I'm wearing loreal true match mixed in both shades in this photo below, with mac lipstick cremesheen in fan fare. 

Katie xx





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Thursday 13 November 2014

Ten minute makeup



Because let's face it...who can do a full face in five minutes?! 


So first I prepped my skin with a hydrating moisturiser and primer because come winter it will be getting very dried out and need extra nourishment and moisture. I followed up by applying my foundation Mac Studio Sculpt in shade nc25 with my real techniques brush.  


Then I powdered, bronzed and blushed using Wet n Wild coverall powder in light/medium, Catrice bronzer in medium, and caprice blush in apropos apricot. The brushes used for powder and blush are Nima brushes and the bronzing brush is a Madison brush available at the Cosmetic Outlet. I also highlighted above my cheekbones using MAC soft and gentle skin finish. 


To finish off the look, I fills in my brows with a dark brown matte shadow. The eyes were a combo of matte and shimmery browns and the mascara was Rimmel accelerator mascara with kohl liner from Collection. 

What are your go to products for a five minute face? 



 


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Tuesday 4 November 2014

Embellished Christmas Knit Pick

It's never too early for a funky Christmas jumper...or t-shirt! Here is my pick of the best of seasonal knits from New Look and t-shirts from Hairybaby.com

Take your pick from the following for an all out Christmas silly season jumper, all available from New Look. Which is your fave? Tell me in the comments! I love the bow one below left.





 
If you want to go sparkly but not silly check out some of the more grown up embellished knits on the list, also available from New Look. Simply team them with skinny jeans to dress them down, or a fitted skirt and killer heels for a night out.
 


 
 If you don't yet want to embrace the warmer knits, why not go for a funny Christmas tee from hairybaby.com.
 

You can always layer a long sleeved top underneath, and Christmas jumpers are too warm for those packed pubs during the silly season.


These turkey tee will go well with those snuggly jammies come Stephens' Day when the leftover turkey sambos are being polished off!

 
 
They all retail at €20 so they won't break the bank! Penney's also have a great selection of knits and t-shirts if you are watching the pressies or saving up to treat a loved one this Christmas.
 
Happy shopping! xoxo
 
 
 
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