Dressed to Impress!

Today was my first ever college interview... and I was bricking it. Some would argue that what you're wearing won't matter when you're surrounded by thousands of people that are only worrying about their own interviews - not your clothes choice - but at least knowing I looked nice gave me one less thing to worry about.

So, what do you wear when you're dressing to impress a college? My first port of call was to buy a nice casual (feminine) suit-jacket. I finally found one I liked for a decent price at Primark. If I remember rightly, this one was going on towards £20. Seeing it on the hanger, I imagined wearing my pink polka-dot playsuit underneath - and that was the original plan. But I couldn't find it anywhere, so I settled for my long River Island skirt (£22) and peachy-pink collared shirt (also Primark - £8 on sale). I liked it so much that I was willing to compromise on size (mine's a size 6, I'm a size 8) just for the open front. I actually like that it doesn't do up... but pockets would have been nice.

 

 

I wore this shirt really just to inject a bit of colour into the outfit. At first I'd considered wearing a black shirt with the skirt (once I'd realised my playsuit was nowhere to be found) but I didn't want to give off a "morbid vibe". Also, the buttons down the centre of the shirt, combined with the buttons down the centre of the skirt, makes it look like I bought them as a pair. It all just works. On my lower half I wore black tights and some simple black shoes. I didn't wear heels because I didn't want to be conscious of the clack-clack-clacking. As far as I saw, noone else wore heels.

 

 

I like to think that my makeup was subtle, although thinking back... my lips probably did look a little too pink. That's probably me being too pedantic though, because I didn't get any funny looks while I was there. If you're wanting to go all out, I'd suggest that you put your hair up - in a messy bun or something. As you've seen, mine's down, just for comfort. Sadly, I didn't keep very calm and although I did very well in the screening test and got in, I was absolutely terrified. So it's true what they say: your best accessory is your smile!

 



 

Don't worry, I didn't have my button undone all day

 

 

On my face I wore slightly more foundation (by Collection) than I usually would, and generous amounts of concealer (also by Collection - read the review here). Also, I applied my (you guessed it) Collection powder, and quite a bit of my Rimmel London bronzing powder. On my eyes, I wore a tiny amount of red "Sunkissed" powder eyeshadow and applied a little bit of gold liquid eyeshadow over the top. Hopefully, I'm right in saying that the colours didn't clash and that it was a stroke of genius. I actually didn't wear any eyeliner, but I did wear my favourite mascara - Collection's Killer Curves mascara (hopefully a review'll be up soon) which you can buy for £4.99 on the Superdrug site. On my lips, I wore a coat of MaxFactor Angel Pink and a top coat of MUA Shade #11.

 

I made a big change to my life today and I'm really proud of myself.

 

 

 

 

Make-Up Academy (MUA) Lipstick (Shade #11) REVIEW

Today's blog entry is going to be a review on Make-Up Academy's Lipstick in Shade 11, a lipstick that I ordinarily use every day and repurchase often. Personally, I think that MUA should make the numbers on the labels more recognisable. I saw 'Shade 11' as 'Shade II' because it was written like Roman numerals, and consequently spent about an hour in Superdrug searching for "Shade number two". But that's not important.

 

 

 

All in all, it is a very ordinary, effortless lipstick. I mean, when I just want lipstick on, but nothing too special, this'll be the one I pick up. I even wear it to school. The great thing is that it's quite a good match for my lips so it doesn't look as if I'm trying too hard and I don't stick out like a sore thumb.

 

 

 

Shade 11 is actually a very subtle colour, and perfect for a quiet day out. Application is quick and easy and leaves your lips feeling smooth. It does tend to dry out quickly though (within about an hour or two) so I like to add a little something to it. Usually I'll apply my MaxFactor (Shade #610 Angel Pink) to my lips first, then add the MUA lipstick on top. The more product that's on my lips, the less time it takes to dry up. This creates a lovely pink-red which I'm told is very flattering for my skin tone. The pictures below are of the MUA lipstick, with no combination of other lipsticks.

 

 

 

 

You can buy this lipstick here for just £1.00 (price correct April 2013). I'd suggest checking out Shade #13 though; that looks awesome.

Sorry guys for the state of me yet again! So much going on right now! Anyway, just letting you all know that all opinions written in this blog in mine and I am not being paid by MUA, MaxFactor, Superdrug, or any other cosmetic stores/brands mentioned in this article. 100% fun.

Kate Moss for Rimmel London Lipstick (Shade #1) REVIEW

Recently Rimmel London lipsticks have been on offer at Superdrug Derby for around £5 each, so I happily bought a few and gave one to my sister. Today's product review is on Kate Moss Rimmel London Shade #01 (Lasting Finish) but I shall be reviewing the others very soon. So, here's what I had to say:

 

 

It has to be said that I absolutely adore the packaging. At first glance I thought it was smaller than other lipstick tubes, perhaps compared to Max Factor and MUA lipsticks, but it appears I was wrong and there's essentially just as much product inside. The Kate Moss lipstick that I gave to my sister (Shade #107) is the opposite of my packaging - red case with black writing - but it's just as pretty. As far as I've seen, that's as much as the packaging varies.

 

 



 

At the time of purchase, I was just completely in love with red lipsticks and tried to find the darkest one I could find as I was looking for makeup for a funeral. In the shop I swatched a lot of testers on my hand and this did seem to be the darkest one in collection; but obviously it isn't the brightest around. However, it's more than stand out on my snow-white skin.

 

You can see from the swatch on my hand above that your lips would have to be really hydrated before you introduce the lipstick, otherwise they'll appear chapped. You really do have to apply a generous amount in order for the entire lip to be covered, even though it is very pigmented. I find that the biggest problem with the product is that no matter how much I apply, there's always that pink natural-tone line where my lips meet. Sometimes this isn't as visible, like when I'm looking down, so for day-to-day use I suppose it's fine.

For me, though, it's a pretty bold red to wear and so I'd really only apply it for, say, a party or something. But it is nice to add some more colours to my makeup spectrum just so that I have plenty of options for prom. I had difficulty applying it though, and in my opinion you'd need a makeup artist with you just to get this completely right. It's extremely easy to smudge and therefore very difficult to shape your lips without messing up. Maybe you could use a lip-pencil for that, I don't know.

As for the 'Lasting Finish' aspect, it is true to some extent. I was able to drink a couple of mugs of Irn Bru without it rubbing off on the cup so much, but when you eat obviously the colour diminishes and you'd need to reapply at least a little. Without eating or drinking I do think the product would stay looking bright for a good few hours. I might not repurchase one of Kate Moss' darker lipsticks -  although I do love this one - but I have heard good things about the nude colours from fellow YouTubers so that will be my next stop.

Look out for more Rimmel London reviews soon and you can catch Tiegan and I's latest video online at www.youtube.com/teewithmeg. Thankyou!

Please bear in mind that all opinions expressed are 100% mine and 100% honest. These articles are fun for me to make and hopefully informative for my readers to read.I have not been sponsored by Rimmel or Superdrug to make this post. Also, sorry if I look terrible in my pictures - the light was being indecisive through the window and I decided not to reapply my makeup for the photos. But I definitely will next time!

Collection Cover Up Stick REVIEW

A few months ago I bought Collection's cover-up stick in shade #13 "Natural Beige" for £2.99 at my local Superdrug store, and I love it... for all the wrong reasons. 

At the time of the purchase, I knew that Natural Beige was too dark for my skin, but only slightly. If there had been a lighter shade available in the store, I would've bought it - but sadly there isn't much choice for paler people such as myself in many high street stores. In some ways buying the darker shade worked to my advantage; for I like to drag the stick under my eyes and rub the product in with my ring finger in order to hide my dark circles, and this is where the shadows would naturally fall on your skin. So you would want that area to look a little bit darker than the rest of your face anyway; just to ensure that you're looking as natural as possible.

I do try to use it to cover up my spots, but the only thing it really works on for me personally is my dark circles. This is because - with the product being a tiny bit too orange for my pale skin - it doesn't cover blemishes. Usually, it just creates an orange ring around/over the spot that is really hard to remove. I also find that it makes my skin look streaky in the places where I've tried to hide spots, so I am of the opinion that a liquid concealer would work a lot better on my spots. Here's a before and after shot...

Without Collection Cover-Up Stick

With Collection Cover-Up Stick

Sorry for the no-makeup shots guys but I really thought this was needed! So, today I only used the product under my eyes and over the spot that has developed just above my nose. You can see in the bottom-most picture that my skin appears fresher just by adding a miniscule amount under my eyes, and I even look a little less tired. This is great for me when I'm getting ready for a day at school. As for the spot - it does appear reduced, but only slightly. However, I suspect that, had I used my camera for the photos of my face, the spot would appear slightly more visible. I would say that with the Cover Up stick over my spots, you can tell (even with the slightest amount) that I've used a product. And it does make my skin tinge with orange.

Having said that, when I combine this product with my Rimmel foundation and Collection powder, some spots are hardly visible at all. I'd recommend this product for covering dark circles, but not much else. I would suggest paying a little bit more for a liquid concealer if you're going to hide your spots.

I would have taken more photos today guys - if the batteries in my camera hadn't died! Poor planning. Anyway, if you have any questions about this product please feel free to tweet me at @HUNT3RMUNT3R on Twitter. This article is not sponsored and all views are 100% mine.

The Boohoo Boutique Range REVIEWED

Well, guys, Boohoo have an idea what they're doing. Their "Boutique" range, which you can find online at this address, is stylish, edgy and right on the mark. There isn't much colour to the outfits, but where there is it generally goes well and doesn't look as though the designer has rushed something together in a desperate attempt to create anything. Although it's a relatively small collection, you'll make a rather large statement with some of these outfits on. Just look at this 40's-inspired hem skirt...

... I mean, why wouldn't you want this in your life? This little number would be perfect with a black crop top - and just imagine all the jewellery you could wear! It's available (currently) in dress-sizes 12 to 16 here.

Here's another beauty...

 



Gosh, the model wears this perfectly. Collared shirts are very common at the moment, but I love how this one has it's own twist; there's almost a personality to it. You can see on the photo how the black becomes grey in the light, giving it a lovely shimmer see-through effect. Not only that, but the darker black on sections 'round the collar and down the centre make you stand out from the crowd. Both of my selections are available for only £20.00 each and you can buy this one here.

Here are a couple of it's failures. The first thing from the range was this "Lucy 3D Flower Crop Top":

 

 

Now, this is in Coral. First things first, look at the shape. This would not suit anybody. Imagine a skirt trying to pop out from underneath the shirt - the skirt just look flat and unflattering. Even with the shorts that the model's wearing, to me it still doesn't look right. I'd say the only way you could pull this off is maybe with some coloured jeans. Maybe a pair of short black hotpants would work; but if you were wearing a pair of sexy hotpants, why would you want to wear this shirt? To me it just doesn't work, at all. You do have the option to buy it in Ivory though, here, and this seems to work better.

You can buy the Ivory version here, or maybe try the long-sleeved "Kimberley" version, seen below:

 

With this shirt I really can't help liking how it shows off your collarbones. If you click on this link though, you'll see how terrible it looks from the back when you view the pictures taken from other angles.

Please bear in mind that all opinions expressed are 100% mine and that I have not been paid to review Boohoo's website or any of its ranges. These blogs are simply fun for me and information for my readers. Thankyou.

Spring-Summer '13 Range at FashionUnion.com!

Although there aren't many glam pieces, you get what you pay for. The garments aren't extortionately priced and are in fact quite reasonable and affordable - the individual pieces usually cost between £5-£20 and barely ever extend the £30 mark. The range isn't exactly my personal Heaven (most aren't clothes that I would ordinarily wear) but there is something for everybody. Best of all, the website is updated every day at www.fashionunion.com. There's nothing that screamed out to me "GO GET IT!" but I'd keep an eye out for updates to the site.

The range includes a wide variety of thin collared-shirts, maxi skirts, skater dresses and even studded caps for the women, aswell as an accessories range for bags and shoes (sizes 3-8).  I feel that some of the clothes are pretty plain - even bland - and many aren't well decorated or made of the greatest material. Combined with a pair of your favourite coloured jeans for example, many of the shirts would look bland and washed-out. If Fashion Union was on the High Street, it would be the lovechild of New Look and Asda Clothing... if you can imagine those two mixed. For a Spring/Summer range, it's items definitely need a bit of colour injected.

Most disappointing was probably the knitwear range, which - despite using popular pastel colours - is simply not comparable with the likes of Republic or Jack Wills, who get it right every single time. It simply isn't up to that standard. But if you're still interested in purchasing, Fashion Union caters for sizes 3-16 and all the standard sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL etc. Although most of their stock doesn't sit well with me, they definitely know what they're doing in terms of crop tops. Every style is very "in" at the moment; with some of their models sporting grey comic-book style slogans and others showing off their Aztec prints.
Here are some of my favourite collabs/outfits:

Take a closer look

 

Buy this crop-top here

 

See what I mean? Pretty simplistic, but great if you know how to wear them. They'll ship to pretty much anywhere in the UK, Europe, USA or Canada. Read their delivery list to find out if they'll ship to you.

Does their name ring a bell? Fashion Union currently sponsor the popular TV show, Chasing The Saturdays.

All views expressed have been 100% mine and I have not been paid to review Fashion Union or any of their ranges. This is for my entertainment and to inform my readers. All links work as of 2013 and all delivery, size and price facts published are 100% true.

Clearasil "Daily Clear" Deep Cleansing Pads REVIEW

For a year on-and-off, I've been trying to find out just how good the Clearasil Daily Clear Deep Cleansing Pads are and I've been using the product consistently for the past couple of months or so. Clearasil recommends that you use the product twice a day (in the evening and in the morning) so I've stuck tirelessly to that routine - even when it meant getting out of bed having forgotten to use it. I didn't use it in combination with any other facial scrubs or spot treatments.

Using the pads on my face I found that they aren't as harsh on your skin as I first imagined. This is largely due to the fact that as long as you don't leave your container open, you'll never get a dry pad. All the good stuff's in there - the pads really soak up the liquid well. I did find that while my skin took to the liquid it went a little red; but not to worry because that soon fades. You can even target harsher spots by pressing a clean pad down on them so that more liquid comes out. The application is quick and easy, and you can effectively put on however much you want to. I wouldn't say that the product feels very luxurious on, but it does feel like you're doing good by your skin. Oddly, your skin feels especially clean and cool but just a little bit sticky.

There was one up-side to using Clearasil on and off - and this was that I noticed a difference when I stopped using the product. And what I found was that the Clearasil doesn't help all of the spots, but it helps with a great deal of them. After using the product (for quite a long period of time) you do notice that all yellowheads cease to exist, but a few of your average red ones do still appear in your most "populated" area - mine being the sides of my face due to irritation from my hair - and you will still get the occassional breakout. The red spots do still take quite a while to disappear - leaving scars for quite some time - but they do disappear more quickly than when I'm not using the product. The worst thing about the Clearasil pads is that if you miss a session (either in the morning or at night) you're likely to have a breakout. For me, it just seems like your spots miss a section of the cycle - the yellowheads are all that don't appear. Some days your face is clearer than others.

For some people, application twice a day still won't be enough and you'll have to use it a third time. It's for this reason that I feel as though there should be more pads in the tubs - 65 is all that's in mine. I'd say one tub probably takes a month to run out, but you can do the maths.

So, here's a brief breakdown of the product:

PROS/POSITIVES:
1) Quick and easy application
2) Targeted application
3) Gets rid of yellowheads
4) Dries in quickly (making make-up application as easy as usual)
5) Overall it feels nice on your skin

CONS/NEGATIVES:
1) Doesn't help so much with scarring
2) You still get breakouts
3) (Being picky) there could be more pads in the tubs
4) You'll probably have to use it more than is recommended

Any questions, please comment or send them in a (private) message to my YouTube channel inbox.