NOTD: Make Up Store Britta

If you, like me, have been on the hunt for an amazing holographic polish, then stop. The search ends right here.

Products Used

Illamasqua Base Coat

Make Up Store 'Britta'

Illamasqua Top Coat

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Britta is £11 and can be purchased from the Make Up Store on Carnaby Street, London. Are you a fan of holo polishes? Found any I should try?

NOTD: Tiger Stripes

Products used

Illamasqua Base Coat

L'Oreal Colour Riche in Opulent Pink

L.A. Colors Art Deco Nail Art Lacquers in Black

Illamasqua Top Coat

I was incredibly impressed with the L'Oreal polish. Opaque in one quick and easy coat. Such a gorgeous deep pink shade. Tiger stripes have been my default quick and easy nail design to do at the moment to jazz up a polish. 

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Are you a fan of tiger print nails?

Review: No 7 Get The Look Daytime Palette

Considering I bought this in the January sales, this post is a little overdue! If you're anything like me, I love nothing better than picking up the Boots Christmas Gift Guide and flicking through, marking off items that I would buy for other people mainly for me. I think I had a list as long as my arm of the items I'd spied that would sit perfectly in my beauty collection. The day after Boxing Day I happened to be at work (glutton for punishment?!) and I knew the Boots sale was on so I skipped down on my lunch break and bought a whole host of half price goodies. I mean, it'd have been rude not to, right? I *think* this item was about £10 full price so I would have bought it for around £5.

I've not tried a huge range of products from No 7 - I'd previously stuck to their mascaras and nail polishes but have branched out since trying this product. The Get The Look Daytime Palette seemed to be a good bet as it meant I could trial the No 7 shadows, blush, bronzer and lippies in pan format. What a blooming good idea that was. I love everything about this palette from the design, to the tutorial cards for inspiration, and of course the product selection.

The palette contains 3 buttery soft eyeshadows in everyday shades - there's a creamy satin shade which works well as a highlight shade on eyes and cheeks, a beautiful satiny taupe shade which I love to put all over the lid on a 'I can't be bothered' kind of day as it brings out the colour of my eyes, and a gunmetal grey which works well as a shadow or a liner.

I adore the blush and bronzer. I was a little hesitant to try the bronzer as I find it really hard to find bronzers that work for me without being orange or muddy. Luckily, it's a beautiful matte shade that complements my pale skin perfectly. The blush is a gorgeous coral toned pink which works really well with my skin and it looks lovely on the apples of my cheeks.

There isn't a massive amount of difference in the three lip shades and at first I thought they'd be too dark for me and too red. I'm not a red lippie kind of girl, I really don't think I can pull it off that well to be honest, but these shades apply well, are buildable so you can achieve the look you're after and last for a few hours before you need to touch up.

I love the packaging, I think its really rather lovely. The Get The Look cards are handy if you're looking for inspiration or are a make up novice. I really liked the full sized mirror - perfect for touching up on the go and I'd definitely pop this in my bag if I was staying out for the night or travelling. The only thing I didn't think was necessary was the brushes. When will make up companies learn they are rubbish? If they weren't there we could have had a few extra products - I'm thinking eyeliner!

Overall, a fab purchase and something that I would not hesitate to buy as a present this year.

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Only 105 days to go ;)

Illamasqua Generation Q

It's that time of year again, when we eagerly await the launch of Illamasqua's highly anticipated A/W 2012 make up collection:

L-R: Evelyn (72), Ian (40), Mairi (39)

Generation Q is a celebration of beauty. Ageless, and without limits or restrictions. It’s Illamasqua's declaration to the world that beauty is inclusive, not exclusive. In fact, Generation Q is a clear message to everybody, everywhere that beauty is not young, old, black, white, male or female, but anything, everything and everyone. If you’re someone who does not want age to define them, don’t want to blend in and fade away, you are Generation Q.

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Evelyn
"I feel definitely that if you love glamour or care about your appearance then be empowered - let's believe in ourselves and go for it! I never imagined I would be wearing false eye lashes or red lipstick again and am thrilled to re-find the sense of fun that making up can give you with the promise of endless possibilities in new looks."

Mairi

"I think it’s a great idea to use real people for your campaigns, it’s raw and exciting, because age doesn't matter - it's how you feel on the inside that does, if you are confident about you look, it shows."

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For Illamasqua, this is a stand the brand were born to take. So in typical Illamasqua style, they've done something that no other brand would or could do. The new Generation Q campaign will go against the industry’s unspoken and despicable taboo, by featuring older models as well as young. Because to Illamasqua, hiding your age is like hiding your true identity. After all “Illamasqua customers will not be told what to do and when to do it” Julian Kynaston, Illamasqua Founder.

Top: Patricia (55) L-R: Karen (40+), Georgia (22), Amrit (21)

Karen

"I’m past 40! Life is for living and if I feel happier by surrounding myself in bright colours and sparkly things then I WILL. I often get stared at when I walk round towns, shops because I am a little OTT, distinctive hair and make-up and I do WANT to stand out in a crowd. So each time someone stares ... I smile at them because I’m happy with my individual look and 99% of the time they smile back."

Amrit

"I think more brands should notice what Illamasqua are doing and take it on board... Make-up is about confidence, and if bright colours, bold statement make-up helps show this then why not? Age doesn't matter whatsoever, it's merely a number."

~*~

Illamasqua is not just make-up for the skin. It’s make-up for a mind-set. And it’s why all the Generation Q models aren’t models at all, but real make-up fans, with a real life and real sense of their own beauty. The future of beauty is changing and we are the new voice of a brand new generation - Generation Q, where beauty has no age limits

  

"Generation Q - is generation YOU!

It's what they tell you not to do; it’s what you see your true self through.

It's what is old and what is new.

What you know and what you knew.

It's what you feel and what is true"

Alex Box, Illamasqua Creative Director

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The Collection

Generation Q empowers and complements the user with light reflective not age reflective products. The collection is a story of sultry, forbidden shimmer and creative formulations to build dimension. All products and shades included in Generation Q have been formulated and chosen irrespective of age, race, gender or sexual preference to give everybody the tools to express their alter ego. Illamasqua is standing up against the industry rule of “only wearing matt” products and concealing your real identity under a sea of “beige” after a certain age. Complementing and empowering your true beauty, shimmer is adorned to accent, highlight and lift features. Generation Q is a celebration of today, where beauty and creativity has no sell by date.

Generation Q consists of two new palettes, Empower and Complement (£34 each), two new lipsticks, Magnetism and Underworld (£16 each), two new intense and sheer glosses, Boost and Opulent (£14 each), two polishes, Charisma and Creator (£13.50 each), two blushes, Sophie and Allure (£18 each), a Gleam highlighter, Aurora (£18), and a new precision ink liner, Wisdom (£17).

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Generation Q can be found on the Illamasqua website now, with three items available to order now on early release, and all other products can be pre-ordered. The collection goes on general release online and in store tomorrow.

What do you think to Generation Q? Let me know which items you'll be picking up. I've already got my order sorted, so stay tuned!

Things I learnt in August 2012

Source

001. I'm a trendsetter ;)

002. I'm getting into the Olympics! Go Team GB!

003. I'm sick of letting people walk all over me.

004. People need to learn to be polite.

005. Cute babies make me broody

006. I have a real love for nude nail polish

007. The Olympics is really emotional to watch!

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008. Oh. All aboard the train for change...

009. I am tired of being the 'go-to' person. Sod off.

010. Sun, maxi dresses, flip flops and the beer garden - a perfect way to relax on a Friday!

011. I'm finally realising that its ok to be me and to not give thought to what other people think of me

012. People are hypocrites.

013. I've finished the Fifty Shades trilogy. It was quite good, if a bit repetitive!

014. Teensy bit tired of being treated like a nobody.

015. Its not fair to be a pawn in someone else's game.

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016. Rain is very odd.

017. Friends make everything seem brighter.

018. Billy Connolly's Sat Nav voice is hilarious if you don't follow instructions ;)

019. I hate being the solution to everyone else's problems.

020. I think I've found my replacement for Fifty Shades.

021. I am officially bored of shopping.

022. Biting your cheek hurts.

023. I'm selfish apparently. Good to know.

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024. Gin after work is always a good idea.

025. Benedict Cumberbatch is a babe.

026. There's no wonder HMV are in trouble when Amazon undercut them by around 50%.

027. Sometimes, people genuinely surprise me in their kind words

028. And then sometimes people don't surprise me in their underhand tactics and lies.

029. Having wet feet all afternoon is not cool.

030. Its nice to feel appreciated and valued

031. Mama K is an awesome baker

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How was August for you?