GlamSam

The Kindle Club

2012-03-07T06:00:00.000-08:00

This is a slightly different post about another passion of mine - reading! I've had my Kindle for nearly a year now and in the space of that time have managed to read countless books, some that I've been meaning to read and others that I wouldn't usually go for but ended up loving. I commute a lot and have found this to be my saviour during those horrible journeys where I've had to stand up reading while being squashed under someone's armpit (if you get on the Victoria line you'll know what I'm taking about...)

Yeah books are great, yeah they smell nice, blah, blah blah... but with a Kindle the experience is so much better.

Advantages:

Having a wealth of books at your fingertips that you can download at the press of a button

Books at discounted price (depending how new the book is)

Ease of use - no more book falling on your face while you read at bed

Good battery life - three weeks to be exact

Disadvantages:

You can't lend them to other people like you would with a book

Some e-books can be expensive

They can't replace the feeling of snuggling up with a frayed, 100 year old musty book in a dusty coffee shop, if you're into that kind of thing...

Has anyone else got a Kindle? I'd love to set up some sort of book club where we can discuss what we're reading, perhaps in the comments section?

Let me know what you guys think and if you have any suggestions :- )

Sami x

Magazine Haul

2012-03-04T08:00:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you but there's nothing I love more than to snuggle into bed on a cold, wet sunday afternoon reading magazines and eating lots of chocolate! I couldn't help picking up this months magazines which were packed with free beauty goodies from Clinique, Percy and Reed and Neal's Yard Remedies. Cosmo are giving away two mini Clinque products while Glamour and Marie Claire are giving away full sized products. A lot of my favourite products were discovered through magazine gifts so I'm looking forward to seeing if I like these too.

I also got my nails done this weekend as I was in desperate need of a pick me up. I haven't had acrylics for years so I'm still adjusting to them, bearing in mind these are a lot shorter than what I used to go for! I still remember the days I used to have pink tips,black tips, yellow tips, zebra tips... The kookier, the better basically. Now I prefer them a bit shorter and less tacky :- )

The colour I picked was OPI That's Hot... Pink!

What's everyone else been up to this weekend??

Sami x

INSTAGRAM: February

2012-03-01T15:30:00.000-08:00

1.Shisha party 2.Chocolate break 3.Homemade Mocha 4.Snow in London 5.Snowy morning 6.Me and my bestie 7.Roses 8.Choco bunny 9.Tiger print 10.Silver phone case 11.Pink phone case 12.Oreo cheesecake 13.MAC envy 14.At Kati Roll 15.I scream for ice cream

I've really become addicted to Instagram but my pics and almost always of food! I will try to be a bit more creative this month :- )

Sami xx

I also wanted to thank all the lovely people who have left kind messages about Gucci. Unfortunately he still hasn't been found and I am missing him like crazy...

MAC Viva Glam and Nicki Minaj

2012-02-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

Following in the footsteps of Lady Gaga and Fergie, Nicki Minaj and Ricky Martin are the latest celebrities to collaborate with MAC and Viva Glam. The products aren't due to launch until next month but I was lucky enough to get a sneaky peek of the products, which I can now exclusively share with you all.

Viva Glam Nicki

Lip Conditioner

What MAC had to say on the latest collaboration:

The fearless Ricky Martin and Nicki Minaj introduce Nicki’s lipstick in a scene-stealing pink and Ricky’s colourless Lip Conditioner in a Tube that goes from day to dance floor! With every cent of the selling price supporting the MAC AIDS Fund, it doesn’t get any hotter. They’ve teamed up to raise HIV/AIDS awareness among young people around the globe. Nicki and Ricky dare you to be bold. Be beautiful. Be safe.

The lipstick is a gorgeous, popping pink with a yellow undertone and satin texture. The colour glides on super smoothly and has just the right amount of pigment to make it stand out but not outlandishly so. I'm really glad to see MAC and Nicki go for something different to previous Viva Glam lipsticks (I found Lady Gaga's shades to be really boring and safe). This is a pink like no other I've seen in MAC and so I think it's well worth the purchase. I don't think it will suit everyone, especially those with very dark skin due to the yellow undertones, which is ironic because Nicki herself is a woman of colour. The Lip Conditioner from Ricky Martin has been neglected because I'm still blinded by the lipstick, however, I found that it wasn't that great. It had a lovely, sweet vanilla scent but the consistency was too thick and sticky. It also dried up on the tip of the tube making it hard to squeeze out. Poor Ricky Martin, overshadowed by Nicky and her pink hair...

Will anyone be purchasing the new Viva Glam products once it's out this week?

Sami x

Missing Gucci

2012-02-25T14:04:00.001-08:00

When I started this blog I intended it on being a place to obsess over my latest beauty buys or must haves. I decided to keep certain things like my personal life private because a) who really cares?! and b) the internet can play host to all kinds of stalkers. I do however think it's important to come across as relatable and likeable (most of my favourite blogs are written by women that I admire or feel some kind of connection to). For that reason I think I owe it to let you in to my current situation and to explain why I haven't been posting on here as regularly...

Gucci my cat, who I've had for two years has gone missing and I've been out of my mind with worry (yes - I am one of those people strangely obsessed with cats...!) My sister, who bought him and my mum who usually looks after him and feeds him his four (yes - four) breakfasts every morning are also really upset by his disappearance.

I'm sure a lot of people think getting so upset over a pet is silly but until you've had one yourself you won't know how hard it is. When I'd be bored at home or upset he was always be there to cheer me up with his crazy shenanigans or by grudgingly let me give him cuddles and kisses. He'd jump on my bedroom window ledge at 5am every day to let him in, pretend to be ill for attention and constantly cry for food. These are just some of the mad things he'd do and now the house feels so quiet and boring without him. Even the local cats come outside our doorstep in the hope that he's returned!

It's been just over a week since he went missing and I'm hoping and praying that he's okay. We've put leaflets and posters up everywhere and called the vets to find out if anyone had taken him in. So far we've had nothing but empty leads which is really frustrating. Not knowing anything is the hardest but I try to not think about it too much or I just go mad. Some of you might be rolling your eyes at this and thinking: pull yourself together woman - it's only a cat! but I've grown so attached to him and he's become a part of our family that I can't just be okay.

I'll get back to blogging as soon as I've pulled myself together but until then I'll be enjoying reading everyone else's.

Sami x

Vera Wang Princess Night

2012-02-07T13:53:00.000-08:00

I've always been a big fan of the Vera Wang Princess range so I was really excited to hear about it's latest launch - Princess Night. I'm sure by now you've all realised how awful I am at describing scent but I'd say it has a more exotic, sexy edge to it than the past versions. Notes include raspberry, watermelon, jasmine, vanilla and musk - quite an eclectic mix of sweet and exotic! I personally love it because it's sweet but not sickly so and the musk and jasmine notes give it a more sensual edge.

A word on the bottle...

I don't love it, but I don't hate. It's adorned in deep purple glitter (it looks black to me...) thought to be inspired by city night lights and shaped, as all the others, in heart. It's cute but impractical. For one thing I can't carry it around in my bag or I end up with glitter at the bottom. The lid also comes with a detachable ring that likes to fly off every time I open it. In fact I think it's missing as we speak... Having said that, it is pretty, it sparkles and looks lovely on my dressing table. Shallow... me?!

Has anyone else tried this scent? Who else is a big fan of the Princess perfumes?

Sami xx

INSTAGRAM: January

2012-02-05T04:28:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of this year I upgraded my phone from the Blackberry to the iPhone 4S and one of the first apps I downloaded was Instagram. For those who don't know what it is, Instagram is a photography app that allows you to upload your photos with vintage effects. It's a little like Twitter in the sense that you have a timeline and can add friends, the only difference being that instead of updating your status with text you use images :)

1.Perfume collection 2.Winter themed cupcakes 3.YSL 4.Girlie lunch 5.Gucci 6.Beauty Books 7.HOT Nandos 8.Jewellery for a shoot 9. Caffeine fix 10. My new cover 11.Magazines 12.Pink ghds 13.Galaxy cookie crumble 14.Swarovski fan 15.Coffee machine 16.Posey 17.Peach nails 18.posing... again!

I'll try doing a monthly update but in the meantime feel free to add me on sami_rah (glamsam was taken!!) or post yours in the comments section. What's everyone up to on this chilly, snowy morning? I'm sitting on my bed watching the snow fall, eating lots of chocs and practically hugging my heater!

Sami xx

Beauty sales haul

2012-01-28T14:58:00.000-08:00

I realise that I'm a MONTH late to be talking about sales but I did pick up a few really good bargains earlier this year that I've been itching to tell you all about. I know the bargain bit doesn't really apply any longer but let me say this - I'd purchase these at full price without batting an eyelid (am I selling it to you yet?)

Benefit Powda Wowza ~~£19.50~~ £13

I would recommend this in a heartbeat for those looking to dip their toes into Benefit. A full size blusher or bronzer is about £23.50 so imagine the savings you would make getting three slightly smaller ones for less than one?! I found Bella Bamba quite understated and not nearly as sparkly and pigmented as I thought it'd be. It's great for getting healthy, rosy cheeks. Coralista is an old favourite of mine and I find it gives a lovely wash of colour over cheeks. Hoola has had mixed reviews but I found the matte, woody brown bronzer perfect for contouring. I'd recommend applying it with a light hand if you don't want it looking muddy but I usually slap it on and it looks fine, to me anyway : )

YSL Rouge Volupte Lipsticks in Provocative Pink and Praline Delight ~~£23.50~~ £14.74

YSL Rouge Volupte lipsticks are my guilty pleasure! I can't bring myself to pay nearly £25 for a lipstick so I usually wait for the sales to splurge. This year they sold like hot cakes on the House of Fraser website so while I was umming and ahhing over what shade to get or Googling swatches most of them had gone. I was lucky enough to snag the last Provocative Pink (#10) which I've had my eye on for a long time but most of the nude shades sold out so I settled for Praline Delight (#24). Praline Delight is a very muted taupe with an almost icy undertone which means it can be difficult to wear unless you pair it with something dramatic like a smokey eye. Provocative Pink is an extremely vibrant, bight pink. I'd describe it as lighter than MAC's Girl About Town and less neon than Show Orchid. In terms of quality YSL Rouge Volupte is brilliant. The texture and consistency is so moisturising but unlike other lipsticks it's still pigmented.

I think it's safe to say that I'll be saving my beauty splurges for the Boxing Day sales this year as I find most of the big department stores (especially House of Fraser) have really good discounts. There were also loads of perfumes on sale but I have such a ridiculous collection that I skipped it. Did anyone else pick up anything nice from the sales? I didn't get ANY clothes as most of it was the wrong size or completely hideous.

Sami xx

Glittery Gold Eyes

2012-01-26T05:05:00.000-08:00

I've always had a thing for gold makeup. I love the opulence and glamour that comes from simply dabbing a gold eyeshadow over my lids or wearing a pair of gold earrings. I find it so much more flattering than silver and less harsh than bronze. Over the years I've accumulated a fair amount of gold beauty products including pigments (great for adding intensity), glitter (for that wow factor), cream shadows and eyeshadow sticks.

This look that I've created would be great for a night out or a fancy dress party (if you fancy going as a disco ball... !) In terms of application, I kept it really simple and used the following products: Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Electrum, GOSH Gold Glitter Pigment, MAC Gold Reflects Pigment (only available at PRO stores). For the brow bone I used a Urban Decay's Midnight eyeshadow and a matte brown eyeshadow on the outer corners.

What do you think? Would you ever rock a glittery gold eye? I tried to persuade my sister to wear this out one night but she felt it was too much! I personally think you can't have too much glitter

: )

Sami xx

BIG Hair with John Frieda

2012-01-23T05:53:00.000-08:00

I've been a big fan of John Frieda products for quite some years now. His Frizz Ease range was one of the first haircare products I bought when I was a teenager (this was way back when ghds didn't exist and I was stuck with a frizzy mess of a mane!) Then a few weeks ago I was in Boots and noticed that they were doing 3 for 2 offers on all professional haircare, so I decided to revisit the brand.

I decided to go for the Luminous Volume range as I'm really loving big, bouncy hair at the moment. I picked up the Thickening Blow Dry Lotion, Thickening Mousse and Volume Refresher.

Thickening Blow Dry Lotion

I spray this all over wet hair including the roots and it definitely makes my hair feel thicker, although I don't see much volume in the roots. I was really surprised that it didn't make my roots greasy or weigh it down in any way - it's very light and smells like bananas!

Thickening Mousse

I usually work two golf ball sized amounts of this mousse into my roots and mid lengths before blow drying it. Again, I found that it doesn't weigh my hair down and gives it a lovely glossy finish. But in terms of volume, I didn't see a huge difference.

Volume Refresher

This is definitely the star product! It works in a similar way to dry shampoo but gives added volume to the roots. I keep a can in my bag and use it pretty much every time it needs a lift.

Cue photos of me with big(ish) hair...

In my quest for bigger hair I've found that there's only so much products can do to give lift and volume. Depending on the length of your hair it will almost always go down after anything between 30 minutes to 3 hours. To get really huge, Cheryl/Kim K hair you need to BACKCOMB. It's not good for your hair but it really does make a huge difference. That and my other love.. hair extensions :)

Has anyone else got tips on volumising your hair?

Sami xx

YSL Glossy Stain

2012-01-18T12:53:00.000-08:00

I am a HUGE fan of YSL products - everything about them oozes glamour and the quality is always amazing. So I was a little disappointed when I picked up their latest offering - the YSL Glossy Stain. I was expecting something quite pigmented and vibrant like the Collection 2000 Cream Puffs, but better. Instead I got a watery mess of a lip gloss! Let's start from the beginning to see how it all went so horribly wrong...

I rushed over to the Selfridges beauty counter one evening after work (where it is exclusively available) after hearing about the latest lip product from YSL. After about 20 minutes of played around with the shades I settled for #17 - a bright pink similar to MAC's Pink Nouveau. The next day I tried it on at work and it felt WET. I'm not sure how else to describe the texture other than it felt like I'd just paid £22.50 to rub water on my lips. I persevered and applied another more generous layer and it looked OK but again the texture was still too wet and slippery for my liking. I also noticed that it left my lips stained a deep red which could be an allergic reaction to the ingredients but I'm not sure. As you can see the whole experience was a bit of a shambles and I held off writing about it because I really wanted to like it.

I can imagine this being a good product to use if you have dry lips and want to stop your lipstick from cracking but unfortunately for me it did nothing.

Has anyone else tried the new YSL Glossy Stains?

Sami x

Nail du Jour: January Blues

2012-01-17T14:26:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year where I feel blue. All the excitement of December and Xmas has gone leaving us with dreary weather, rubbish TV, detoxes and an empty bank account (anyone else go slightly crazy in the sales?) I think this Zoya nail polish in Marina describes my current mood perfectly. It's quite a murky, dark blue with a hint of metallic and comes from the Mirrors collection. I wouldn't usually pick up this type of colour but I got it with my GlossyBox (it's broadening my horizons, in the shallowest way possible...) And of course I jazzed it up with a bit of gold sparkle. I went for OPI Glitzerland (from their Swiss collection) and topped it off with Mavala Gold Diamond, which I absolutely recommend for anyone who wants to get a really gorgeous, glittery finish.

Hopefully I'll snap out of this mood but in the meantime does any one have any tips on cheering up? Cuddles with Gucci my cat are nice but I think he's getting fed up!

Sami xx

Face of the Day: Violet Eyes

2012-01-10T14:23:00.000-08:00

It recently dawned on me that I hadn't done any interesting makeup looks for a while. I usually sticking to my failsafe smokey brown eyes - boring! This weekend I had a play around with purple eyeshadow (God, I own about five different shades so it was high time I put them to use). The result was a vibrant violet with a splash of pink. I love this look but felt it made me look a little tired. Does anyone else get that with pinky/purple eyeshadow??

I mainly used Urban Decay's Psychedelic Sister which is a gorgeous, vibrant purple and then applied Urban Decay Junkshow, a really deep pink on the crease. To finish the look I applied Urban Decay's Midnight which is a gorgeous shimmery cream shade that works wonderfully as a highlight. As you can see I'm trying to get the most out of my UD palettes! And on the subject, I'm still umming and ahhing about getting the Naked 2 palette. I have the first one and it's amazing but I'm not sure if I need the new one. I'm not even sure why I'm thinking about it... As soon as it spot it in Debenhams I'll most likely snap it up (impulse buying syndrome).

Has anyone else got the UD Naked 2 palette? Is it worth the purchase?

Sami xx

MAC Lipstick Collection - Nudes & Pinks

2012-01-08T10:34:00.000-08:00

Carrying on from my previous post here are the nude and light pink shades from my MAC lipstick collection. You can see from the state of them that they get a lot more use than the brights.

Pink Friday (satin) - this limited edition shade was designed by Nicki Minaj about a year ago. The colour is really bright so I usually dab it on for a more natural look

Pink Nouveau (satin) - very similar to Pink Friday but a lot brighter. I love how it's such a classic Barbie pink

Chatterbox (amplified) - this looks amazing in the summer with a tan! It also has more of a peachy undertone than the others.

Pink Plaid (matte) - out of all the pinks this one suits me the best. It has a slightly deeper, mauve undertone

Modesty (creamsheen) - a gorgeous nude brown but the creamy texture means I end up reapplying it every other hour

Kinda Sexy (matte) - a slightly more orangey brown. It's also super pigmented

(Blankety) amplified - out of all the nudes in my collection this is the palest which means it can wash me out . I usually have to mix it with another colour

Faux (satin) - yes I saved the best 'til last! This is by far my favourite lipstick ever. I use it so much that the rest of my collection can get forgotten. I'd describe it as a pinky/brown nude that would suit anyone.

A word on the the textures...

MAC lipsticks are categorised by the following finishes:

Satin - similar to a semi matte finish but a lot creamier.

Amplified - gives the best colour pay off with a super creamy texture

Matte - not as creamy but really pigmented and long lasting

Creamsheen - ultra glossy but not as long lasting as the other finishes

Frost, Lustre & Glaze - I haven't tried these yet

Let me know what other shades are must haves for my makeup bag!

Sami xx

MAC Lipstick Collection - Brights

2012-01-07T15:49:00.000-08:00

I may have a slight obsession with MAC lipsticks, well lipsticks in general, but MAC are by far my favourite brand. I remember first visiting the MAC counter and being completely wowed by the sheer variety colours. Over the years my collection has grown and every time I pop into MAC I'm tempted into buying a new lippie. So I thought I'd start with a post on my bright lipstick collection. I don't even wear them that often, which makes this collection all the more ludicrous but they make me happy : )

Impassioned (amplified) - one of my all time favourite lipsticks. The colour is so punchy and bright and I love wearing it during the day!

Morange (amplified) - an extremely bright orange. I want to love it but it makes me look ridiculous

Show Orchid (amplified) - another favourite but can be hard to wear all the time because it's so super bright and neon

Lickable (creamsheen) - this shade is only slightly darker than Girl About Town but in my opinion nowhere near as nice!

Violetta (amplified) - quite a scary purple shade that swatches nice but comes out too dark on me. I've reserved it for scaring kids at Halloween.

Up The Amp (amplified) - so wrong it's right. This neon lilac is actually really flattering and I remember going through a phase of wearing it all the time

I'll post Part 2 in a bit a long with more info on the different textures (in case you hadn't noticed my favourites are mainly from the Amplified family!)

Has anyone else got these colours? What other bright shades are worth getting? I want to get Vegas Volt so bad!

Sami xx

Bronzer Recommendations Please!

2012-01-04T06:38:00.000-08:00

What do you do when your favourite bronzer gets smashed into pieces?

I got this NARS palette back in the summer but didn't think much of it at the time. Inside there are three NARS classics: Orgasm blusher, Albatross highlighter and Laguna bronzer, to help you create the perfect glowy, contoured look. I already had Orgasm which for me is hit or miss - some days it really perks up my complexion but on other days I can barely notice a difference. Albatross didn't impress me much and gave my cheekbones the faintest hint of shimmer. But with Laguna it was love from the very first sweep. Unlike most bronzers I've used, this one didn't make me look orange. It's a deep, chocolate brown with a matte finish and the buttery soft texture meant it glided on effortlessly. I used it pretty much every day in the summer for an all-over glow and to contour my cheekbones throughout winter. Six months down the line and it was nearing the end of it's life, until the other day when it crumbled and broke. I'm thinking to repurchase but there are other bronzers in my collection that have been neglected.

The Options:

Shiseido - this has a gorgeous texture but can make me look really orange. It does however come in a compact case with a mirror so would be great to pop in my bag.

Chanel - I love this bronzer and it gives the most subtle wash of colour but the cream texture makes it too fiddly for early mornings and I can't use it when I'm out.

NARS - another lovely deep bronzer but a little too dark for winter and better as a contour rather than all over bronzer.

Is anyone else a bronzer addict like me? Do you have any recommendations? I've heard a lot of good things about Benefit's Hoola so might pick that up.

Sami xx

Happy New You

2012-01-01T07:50:00.000-08:00

Hello! I hope everyone had a lovely New Year? I'm currently sitting on my bed with a stinking cold feeling sorry for myself. After about the 5000th sneeze of the morning I got thinking about New Year's Resolutions and how every year I make them yet never seem to keep any for more than a week, usually because I have such unrealistic expectations (exercise once a week - yeah right...) So for 2012 I've decided to ease the pressure off myself and keep my goals small but meaningful. Some of these are quite personal but I wanted to share them in the hopes that some of you could relate...

Save Money

This one is hard because I love to shop. Even if I'm broke I won't deny myself something and this can lead to trouble! If I can save some money this year and cut down on shopping (*unfavourites Asos*) that would be a great feat - it would also stop the bank manager at Halifax laughing at me every time I ask him to print off my weekly outgoings...

Write More

For those who don't know I'm a journalist so this is more a 'write more interesting, thought provoking articles' resolution, rather than a general resolution to write more. In the past I've investigated and researched virginity operations and Body Dimorphic Disorder - both of which have not only taught me a great deal, but pushed me to write better. This year I want to carry that on and discover new and exciting leads for stories. I want to affect people with my articles.

Team Me

In the past I've made the mistake of being too nice to people and it's backfired, so much so that some people have started to take advantage. I don't hold grudges but it can hurt when you're constantly there for people but then when you need them they're never there. This year I'll be looking look out for number one.

I think these resolutions are more achievable than exercising or quitting chocolate and they'll hopefully make me happier in the long run. What resolutions do you have? I'll love reading other people's so if you've written a post please put the link in the comments!

Sami xx

Lush Xmas Goodies

2011-12-18T10:14:00.000-08:00

There's something about December that makes me want to stock up on Lush products. I'm not sure if it's because of their intoxicating scent or the way it makes my skin feel super soft, but it really does the trick on those cold, snowy nights when your skin is parched and you're feeling all sniffly (is that even a word?!). This year I've been using some old favourites as well as a selection from the xmas collection.

Dream Steam Tabs £2.50

I haven't used these yet but they're meant to work like a toner, clearing the skin of impurities. You pop them in a bowl of hot water or the sink, place your head over and inhale. Ingredients include tea tree, chamomile and lavender making it perfect for clearing a blocked nose or helping you fall asleep.

Friends with Benefits Massage Bar £6.50

Massage bars are so much fun to use and leave my skin feeling really soft. This one has the most gorgeous orange chocolate scent that I was tempted to scoff it. To use, rub the bar onto your hands and it will begin to melt, then massage onto your body or if your feeling generous - someone else's! It can leave skin feeling a bit sticky so I would recommend using it before bed.

Lil Lush Pud £1.95 & So White £1.90 Ball Ballistics

Let me start by saying that I really like bath ballistics. They leave me with the most silky, soft skin and are really good value, BUT pick the wrong one and your bath will look like pee. So White is very basic and has a lovely, soothing scent but Lil Lush Pud, as cute as it is, smelt very blah and left the most stubborn yellow ring around the bath - not impressed.

Buffy £5.50

A body bar packed with ground almonds and rice for buffing away dry skin and cocoa and shea butter to moisturise. I use it on damp skin before a shower and my skin feels amazingly soft. It's also great to use before shaving as it reduces ingorwn hairs.This is my second bar and I love it more than any body scrub I've used.

Pow Wow Lip Scrub £4.50

During this time of year my lips tend to become really dry so I use a scrub a few times a week. I've tried the Lush Mint Julips and Bubblegum lips scrubs before so thought I'd go for something a little different. This one has popping candy in it and smells really fruity. This isn't really an essential but can be loads of fun to use!

Other Lush must-haves:

Ultrabland cleanser - the most gentle makeup remover/cleanser for dry skin

Snow Fairy shower gel - a Lush classic that smells of yummy sweets

Dream Cream body lotion - a rich cream that keeps my body soft for ages

Ro's Argan body conditioner - like a hair mask but for the body - genius!

What are your Lush must haves for winter? I refuse to believe that anyone reading this doesn't use Lush!

Sami x

Benefit Gift Guide

2011-12-13T04:12:00.000-08:00

For the past few years I've eagerly waited to see what gift sets or palettes Benefit would bring out for Christmas - and they never disappoint! This year I was particularly drawn to the I'm Glam... Therefore I am makeup kit and Ticket to Glossytown lipgloss set.

I'm Glam... Therefore I am

This gorgeous makeup kit encompasses everything you would need for a night out.The mini Girl Meets Pearl highlighter gives cheeks a really lovely, subtle sheen and the mini Bad Gal Lash mascara is one of my all time favourite mascaras for getting really fat, glossy lashes. And if you want to go for a smokey eye there are four eyeshadows to help create it.

I was also really impressed with the pink-coral powder. It had just the right amount of shimmer to lift my complexion and give it a healthy glow. Why Benefit haven't released it as a full sized product I have no idea! I was however annoyed that the the lipgloss was too light for me. Over the past few years Benefit have really improved on catering for different skintones so I wish they had included a lip shade that was more universal.

Including mini sized products was also an excellent idea because it gives you a chance to play around with the products before you commit to buying it full sized.

Ticket to Glossytown

I'm not big on lipgloss. I found out the hard way that it doesn't mix well with long hair and windy days and an incident years ago in the play ground involving a friend wearing lipgloss and an unlucky fly have put me off indefinitely. But that's not to say I wouldn't give it to someone as a gift (with a warning not to wear it on windy days). The Ticket to Glossytown gift set comes with six mini Benefit lipglosses. The quality is what you would expect from Benefit - sparkly, sticky and very pigmented. The only problem was that the colour range is too varied to suit everyone. For instance I couldn't wear the middle colours.You could always split them into pairs for stocking fillers.

I'm a huge fan of Benefit gift sets as I think they're such great value for money and they always include popular products that would please even the most fussy person. I also bought the Benefit Project Flawless Gift Set £29.50 for a friend this weekend and she LOVED it. It comes with a full sized lipgloss and Bella Bamba and a few other mini products, which would cost so much more if bought separately.

You can buy I'm Glam... Therefore I am from ASOS for the reduced price of £22 (RRP £29.50) HURRY!! Ticket to Glossytown £19 is sold out in most places but I've spotted it on the Boots website.

Has anyone else got hold of these gift sets? Would you give them to friends as a present or keep it for yourself like me!

Sami x

Dainty Doll for darker skin

2011-12-09T09:15:00.000-08:00

Dainty Doll was created by Girls Aloud band member Nicola Roberts to cater to those who, like her, have very light skin. I had never paid much attention to it, assuming it would consist of light nude lipsticks and brown eyeliner -not my thing at all. But oh how wrong I was. There are some gorgeous colours and products in this range and I'm kicking myself that I never gave it a chance before. Yes there are a few bits in here that would make me look like the undead but there are also some products that I really like.

The Lipsticks

Despite online descriptions calling it pink, It's My Party is more of a juicy orange-red. Surprisingly I found the colour easy to wear and it had a lovely, silky texture. Material World is more difficult to pull off and would only really suit those with super pale skin. I also had Saucy Sailor which is a really warm, glamorous red but my sister fell in love with and nabbed it off me (she says it's really nice though...)

The Bronzer

Anyone who loves a bit of contouring will understand why it's so important to find the right shade. I use a deep brown bronzer (usually NARS Laguna) but for lighter skin I can imagine it being hard to find a shade that doesn't look harsh. Step in Money Talks - a very shimmery taupe that would work perfectly. For me it works better as a highlighter. It's also worth noting that the compact is HUGE so it's certainly value for money.

Eyeshadows

I haven't had enough of a play around with these to give a full verdict but what I will say is that the colours will suit most skintones, in particular Copacabana which is a really vivid blue.

Wonderbalm

A great multi-purpose balm that has a really thick, jelly-like texture. Great for dry, peeling skin, lips and cuticles.

The Rest...

There is an eyeliner/mascara duo in the range but the colour is a light brown - not for me! I also wouldn't use the foundations or concealer as they are specifically designed for light skintones.

Overall I am pleasantly surprised with the Dainty Doll collection. The quality is a lot better than I expected and there are options for everyone. I'm a big believer that beauty (unlike some other industries...) doesn't discriminate and there's something out there for everyone. It's also really nice to see brands that cater to a niche market.

You buy the Dainty Doll range from LookFantastic.com

Has anyone else tried anything from the Dainty Doll range?

Sami xx

Collection 2000 Cream Puffs

2011-12-05T09:57:00.000-08:00

The Collection 2000 Cream Puffs launched early this summer and instantly gained a huge following. I've never been a big fan of Collection 2000 and apart from their liquid liner never really tried anything from the range. Saying that, these cream puffs were bloody brilliant! You apply the cream over lips with a little wand and it dries to a matte finish. I found that I needed to apply two coats to get enough coverage but my lips are naturally quite pigmented so I usually need an extra coat. The matte texture isn't drying in the slightest and lasts for a good couple of hours. It also smells delicious (it took a lot for me not to lick it off). The two colours I got were Fairy Cake - a peachy coral, and Cotton Candy - a mauve pink. Cotton Candy is one of those colours that would suit anyone and is super flattering. Fairy Cake is a bit too orange for my colouring but would look really amazing if you're a bit lighter than me. The only issue I have is that there are only four shades... not nearly enough to feed my obsession! That and the tubes are tiny so I struggled trying to get any product out - buy hey, you get what you pay for.

You can buy them for a bargain £2.99 from Boots who are doing a 2 for 3 on all Collection 2000 products

Has anyone else tried these? What other lip stains are out at the moment? I'm well and truly smitten!

Sami x

OPI Nicki Minaj collection

2011-12-01T08:10:00.000-08:00

Nicki Minaj is one of my favourite artists and whenever she has a new beauty product out I'm first in line to check it out. I even forked out £17 for her MAC LE lipstick when it came out last year (and probably wore it once...). Her latest venture is with OPI, one of my favourite nail brands, who have brought out six new shades, which are named after songs in her album. The three I've picked up are: Pink Friday, Fly and Metallic 4 Life.

From left to right:

Pink Friday - This colour reminds me of strawberry milkshake! It has a really lovely, creamy consistency and is actually a lot brighter in real life. It isn't anything special and being the only pink, girlie colour in the collection I expected it to have more of an edge.

Fly - As soon as a saw this colour I knew I had to have it.The colour is a cross between turquoise and teal - not like anything I've ever seen before. It's not as opaque as I thought it would be but when you apply two coats it comes out really intense.

Metallic 4 Life - Despite the lame name this was one of my favourites from the collection. It's a murky black with chunks of silver glitter splattered all over - lovely! My only issue is that it chips A LOT after just one day so it's best reserved for nights out or occasions.

Overall I think this collection is quite quirky and unique - like the lady herself - and I can see it appealing to a lot of people. I'm now eyeing up Super Bass (second from right) which looks like a really fun shade.

What do you think about the collection? Any stand out shades?

Sami xx

Nail du Jour: Nails Inc Piccadilly Circus

2011-11-29T07:52:00.000-08:00

Look familiar? I got this nail varnish free with the latest issue of Glamour mag and although it's a colour I'd never normally wear I actually think it looks really classy and very grown up (as opposed to my neon oranges and barbie pinks!). It can be a right mess to apply, as you can see by the various stains on my fingers and thumb, but then that could just be my rubbish application... I added a gold glitter topcoat to the ring finger for a more Christmassy feel and I love how it compliments the deep, burgundy red.

Mavala Sparkling Gold £2.99 can be purchased here and Nails Inc Piccadilly Circus is free when you buy the December issue of Glamour which is out until next week, so hurry!

Anyone else loving darker colours for winter?

Sami x

OPI Holland Collection

2011-11-24T08:30:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I attended OPI's SS12 launch to see what they had in store for next year. Each collection has some sort of theme and next spring's is 'Holland'. I associate the Dutch with fresh flowers so was expecting bright greens, pinks and reds, but I guess that would be too predictable.

Instead the collection encompasses a range of colours and tones including nudes, brights and pastels.

LEFT TO RIGHT:

Pedal Faster Suzi!

A baby pink with pearl shimmer. I found this colour a bit too light and icy for my skin tone.

I have a Herring Problem

A denim blue with gold shimmer running through. This wasn't as opaque as the other colours and longer to dry

Gouda Gouda Two Shoes

A deep toffee tone with gold shimmer running through. The texture was incredibly creamy and smooth

The rest of the collection swatched

Overall I found this collection a little boring and there were no stand out, I-must-have-it-now shades for me. Having said that there is an eclectic mix of colours so if you like quirky, offbeat shades this is definitely for you. What do you think of the OPI Holland collection?

Sami x

Face of the Day: Eid Mubarak!

2011-11-21T15:12:00.000-08:00

I know I'm horribly late and Eid was weeks ago... I actually have no idea why I've haven't posted any pics up until now! For my makeup I went for a smokey brown eye and nude lip look with heavily defined eyebrows and lots of bronzer. Hair was curled with my Cloud 9 Wand, pulled to one side and adorned with a hair chain, which I wrote about here .

I know I haven't shown my mug for a while but my makeup has been so boring I didn't really see the point. Will get back to experimenting soon-ish!

Sami xx

Winter Wonder: Hot butter fudge sugar body polish

2011-11-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

As the weather starts to get colder my skin inevitably becomes drier so I really step up my bodycare routine by regularly slathering on rich creams and oil. Another way of getting smoother, softer skin quickly is by using a body scrub. One that I'm really liking right now is the Hot Butter Fudge body polish. It's not as gritty or harsh which means you can use more often and the gooey (I'm struggling to find a word that better describes it!) texture makes it really moisturising. The sweet, fudge scent can get quite sickening after a while but if you have a sweet tooth like me you'll love it. I discovered this during a boring shopping trip to Asda and it only cost me £4. You can buy it here

'Gooey texture' almost jelly-like

Does anyone else like sweet scented beauty products?!

Sami xx

Hair Trend: The ponytail

2011-11-16T09:15:00.000-08:00

One hairstyle that I've seen a lot of buzz around this season is the ponytail. I usually pull my hair back into a pony when I can't be bothered to style my hair or if I'm having a greasy hair day (you know about those days!). What I didn't realise is that it can also look incredibly elegant if styled properly.

Here I styled it with extensions for extra length, volume and glamour, and piled it up quite high to elongate my face. Your hair needs to be slicked back at the front but I hate the crispy feeling of gel so I used L'Oreal Elnett hairspray and smoothed any strays or baby hair with my hands. Simples!

I also discovered a gorgeous accessory last week at an Islamic exhibition. It's basically three chains held together with a detachable brooch on either end. You can wear it on your hijab or secure it onto hair with kirby gribs like me. I'll have a dig around for the name of the company as I can't remember off the top of my head but their prices were really reasonable - I got mine for about £7!

Does anyone else like wearing ponytails? I always end up getting a headache so usually limit it to occasions where I'm not out for too long!

Sami xx

bareMinerals High Shine Eyecolour

2011-11-07T07:54:00.000-08:00

I'm not a big fan of loose powder or pigment. They can be fiddly and time consuming, not to mention I almost always end up spilling it over my carpet or clothes (what can I say... I'm impatient) so when I came across the bareMineral Eyecolours I was sure that I'd hate them. They look troublesome but in fact were really easy to use and give an incredible metallic finish.

Part of the reason is that the little wand picks up just enough product to give eyes a lovely sheen without causing any fallout. The texture was also super smooth and velvety so it literally glided on like butter. The colour range is quite basic with lots of silver and gold tones - I'd love to see them bring out some vivid purples and greens.

Meteorite - an iced mocha, Vapor - a gunmetal grey

I really wanted to do an EOTD but my camera doesn't seem to pick up any colour on my eyes... Urgh! Does anybody have any tips?! I'll have a fiddle around but for now I have swatches. As you can see the grey (Vapor) is a lot more pigmented and creamy whereas Meteorite is a little more crumbly and faint.

You can buy the bareMinerals High Shine Eyecolours £12.75 from FeelUnique.com, with FREE delivery.

Does anyone find pigments annoying to use?

Sami x

Benefit Watts Up

2011-10-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

Last year it was all about Girl Meets Pearl (not a favourite of mine, personally), this year Benefit have brought out Watts Up, a silky champagne highlighter. There's a highlighter stick one side, which you dab on to your cheekbones and a sponge applicator on the other that helps blends it in. I found it really pigmented and had to use a light hand when applying it so as not to look like a disco ball. The cream-to-powder texture meant it was easy to blend and didn't slip off after only a few minutes. The sponge applicator isn't as soft as it should be so it doesn't do a great amount of blending. I gave up and started using my fingers.

Despite the silly name (which I kind of love) and the awful packaging that took me ages to work out, Watts Up is fabulous for giving your skin that glow and luminosity usually achieved by having a facial. However, because of it's pigmentation and high-shine finish I wouldn't suggest using it on skin that's spot-prone or mature as it'll only highlight it more. In terms of texture and quality I'd put this in the same league as the Nars Multiple highlighters. I found it really glossy and it glided onto my skin beautifully. It is very in-yer-face though so I'd reserve for evenings and occasions that call for a bit of glitz and glamour.

When it comes to highlighters I find sticks work better than cream or powder as they give more definition and last longer. For some reason I find it really hard to work with cream highlighters as they barely show up and I end up looking like I've just dipped my head into a vat of oil.

You can purchase Benefit's Watts Up from here for £24.50

Has anyone tried Watts Up? What highlighters (if any) do you use?

Sami x

MAC Lipstick Haul

2011-10-28T04:43:00.000-07:00

I have a really bad habit of buying ten variations of the same thing, especially when it comes to lipstick. This affliction overcame me the other day when I was at the Carnaby Street MAC store. I'd originally gone in to re-purchase an old favourite - Faux - but then I made the fatal mistake of swatching other lipsticks and from there it was a downward spiral...

Left to Right: Modesty, Faux & Pink Plaid

Now bear with me. I know they all look the same but there are a few differences that make each lipstick worth the purchase (really...).

Modesty: A gorgeous nude beige with a creamsheen finish. The warm undertone stops it from washing me out and although the finish is quite glossy it lasts for hours and is really pigmented.

Faux: Similar to Modesty but with a pinkier undertone and a satin finish. This is by far my favourite lipstick and the one that I reach for the most. Super flattering, pigmented and so creamy. The thick texture means that it sits on my lips for ages without slipping off or cracking.

Pink Plaid: I'm always scared of nude or light pinks but this one has a slightly warmer undertone than most which makes it super flattering. The matte texture means it stays put for ages but doesn't dry out my lips.

I know it's a bit excessive to buy three of the same(ish) things but I've always struggled with finding the perfect nude lipstick so when I came across a few I got a bit excited. I try to wear a different colour on my lips everyday but lately I've gotten into the habit of sticking to safe nudes... I think I need to show my brighter colours a bit more love!

MAC lipsticks cost £13.50 and can be purchased here.

Has anyone got these lipsticks? I've collected loads of MAC empties for Back 2 MAC and need suggestions for what free lippie to get. Help!

Sami x

Nail du Jour: Mavala Elle Grey

2011-10-26T07:28:00.000-07:00

If you're familiar with my previous NOTD posts you'll know that the only type of nail I'll tolerate is something bright, sparkly or pink. But in the interests of 'trying new things' I thought I would go for something a little different this time round (that, and I got this nail polish free with an old issue of Elle...). An industrial, basic, light grey is great for those days when you just want your nails to blend in rather than become the star attraction. I kept it on for about a week and it didn't chip until the fifth day. I'll definitely re-use this colour on those days when I want something simple and inoffensive but nothing can take the place of my brights!

Unfortunately you can't buy this nail polish as it came free in a magazine but Mavala's Moon Grey £4.10 is quite similar and can be purchased from Look Fantastic.

Does anyone else like grey nails? I'm not sure that it suits Asian skintone....

Sami x

Pink Orchid and Scarlet ghds

2011-10-25T01:55:00.000-07:00

After five wonderful years together my ghds have packed it in. It was inevitable - I used them nearly every day (I know, I know...) and so did my sister - that's twice a day for five years. Of course I had back ups but they just didn't hit the spot like my ghds (oh dear, why is this turning into and analogy of a boyfriend...).

I believe that there are two camps - one happy to use any decent hair straightener that does the job, and one that won't use anything but ghd. I fall into the second camp. You see, I've been cursed with frizzy, curly hair which has always been a nightmare to style and take care of. I tried one of the first ever straighteners by Remington that had a weird 'steam setting' (which surprise surprise frizzed up my hair more), I tried blow drying (never mastered it and my arm would start to ache) and I tried ironing it (this actually worked really well but I wouldn't recommend it unless you like the smell of burning hair...). So when I heard about ghds I was sold. My hair had never felt sleeker, smoother and straighter. I was smitten.

My sister chose the Pink Orchid styler which is only available during October to raise money for Breast Cancer. I went for the latest Scarlet styler, which is also limited edition but available until Xmas. Both come with a clutch bag that is far too long and ridiculous to use out, but great for storing the styler. It's a lot lighter and sleeker than the original and heats up in half the time. I'm not sure if it's worth paying the extra £20 for a limited edition styler (unless the money goes to charity of course) but I was so fed up of using the same gold plates that I needed something a little different! Other than that I think it's a really wonderful investment and if you take care of them it will last you for ages.

The Pink Orchid ghd styler costs £135 (£10 goes towards Breast Cancer Awareness). The Scarlet ghd styler costs £129, both can be purchased from ASOS

Is anyone else a huge ghd fan? What ones do you use?

Sami x

The Philosophy Microdelivery Peel

2011-10-23T05:37:00.000-07:00

When it comes to DIY facial peels I've always been a bit wary and prefer to leave it to the experts. In fact, just the idea of a peel terrifies me. I imagine it being something like a horror film where you're lying down waiting for the product to work, only to find half of your face has melted off (I'm really not selling this to you am I?!) Rest assured nothing like that happens with the Philosophy Microdelivery Peel. Despite my initial concerns (I put off using it for weeks) I was super impressed. My skin feels like a newborn baby and it looks more radiant than ever!

How it Works: The kit comes in two parts - a scrub packed with Vitamin C peptide crystals to help slough away all the dead skin and an activating gel that foams up and reacts to the crystals. The scrub is surprisingly gentle and you can really feel it work deep into your skin as you massage it in. I was a little worried that it would be too abrasive but my skin didn't look red or patchy in the slightest. The activating gel is then applied after about a minute to help speed up the exfoliating process. It contains lactic acid (an AHA) which infuses the Vitamin C to get it really working deep into the skin. At this point you'll feel a slight tingling but that's to be expected. Leave it for 2-3 minutes and then wash off.

The Result: I am amazed at how well this product worked! My skin felt smooth like a baby's (I couldn't stop stroking it), visibly brighter and more radiant (think of your favourite face scrub and times that by 10).

I've been using it once a week for the past month and my skin is so smooth that foundation, creams and cleansers all glide on effortlessly and any sign of dullness has disappeared. If the winter months aren't kind to your skin I'd urge you to get this. It's priced at £59 which might seem a bit expensive but if you consider that a facial costs around the same amount yet this can be used a good 20 times (depending on the size of your face - mine is small so I get more use!) you're actually making an enormous saving.

Those of you who suffer from very sensitive skin might have some reservations about this product (mine is slightly sensitive and it works fine) but I'd still suggest giving it a try, just use it less often and don't massage it too vigorously. To avoid any flare ups or sensitivity after using the peel I apply Blink's aloe vera gel £24, which instantly calms my skin down and leaves it feeling really soothed.

The Philosophy Microdelivery Kit £59 can be bought from John Lewis or head down to Selfridge's beauty counter where they've just recently started stocking Philosophy.

Buy it and let me know what you think.

Sami x

OPI Mini Designer Series

2011-10-16T02:21:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last Nail of the Day post so what better way to ease myself into it than with four NOTDs! Today we have OPI minis which I got from Asos. I've always wanted to pick some bottles from the designer series but at nearly £13 for a nail varnish I just didn't think it was worth it. Minis are great for testing the waters and seeing if you like a particular OPI range without splashing loads out on them.

REFLECTION

A rich glowing ruby. This is by far my favourite colour of the bunch. It's a gorgeous raspberry red with gold flecks and the glossiest finish I've ever seen.

EXTRAVAGANCE

A glittering, glamorous magenta. Wow - this colour really packs a punch! It's so deep and bright that I instantly fell in love with it.

CLASSIC

An elegant shimmer of gold beige. Out of all the nail polishes this is the most wearable and non-offensive. The pale gold will look amazing against tanned skin.

CORONATION

A silvery platinum crowned with diamond dazzle. This was the most disappointing for me because I found it lacked the sparkle and shimmer that the other three had. Looks great on the bottle but didn't translate well on my nails.

Overall I was really happy with the general texture and quick drying time of the OPI minis. My only niggle is that the names were a little yawn (OPI are known for having some really fun nail polish names!) I also find that the brush on the minis aren't nearly as good as the full size ones, although they're great if you're having a pedicure.

The OPI Mini Designer series were reduced from £13 to £9.10 and can be bought here.

What do you think of the OPI Designer series? What shade did you like the most?

Sami x

Breast Cancer Beauty

2011-10-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

As you might know october is Breast Cancer month and to help raise money and awareness many well-known brands create special 'pink edition' products. It can be anything from household products, accessories, gadgets, stationery, food and beauty products. Of course I'm always interested in what beauty brands bring out as it means guilt-free shopping! You may have also guessed that I'm quite smitten with the colour pink (borderline obsessed actually...) so I always get excited to see what limited edition products are out during Breast Cancer month.

My favourite pink products at the moment (pictured above):

YSL Rouge Volupte in #9

MAC Viva Glam Lady Gaga Lipglass

Sleek Blusher in Pixie Pink

Bourjois Nail Varnish in Rose Vamp

Pink things I want to purchase:

Estess Lauder Elizabeth Hurley Lipstick Set £18.50

This exclusive gift set comes with a limited edition pink lipstick and makeup bag, and for every purchase £5 will got to charity.

Jo Malone Red Roses Body and Hand Wash £30

I love indulging with the occasional luxury beauty so when there's a special charity edition I'll try to pick it up. For every sale £5 will go to Breast Cancer Research.

Aveda Hand Relief £16.50

I'm always on the look out for a good, deep moisturising hand cream so when I saw that Aveda had created a special pink edition of their bestselling hand relief cream, of which £2 will go to charity, I knew it had to be mine.

I'll leave you with this promotional Breast Cancer image from Estee Lauder, which I think gets across the message so beautifully. Will you be buying anything in aid of Breast Cancer this month?

Sami x

How to land a magazine internship

2011-10-02T15:41:00.000-07:00

I get lots of tweets and emails from girls asking me how they can land an internship at Asian Woman magazine, or even a job. It's a tough industry and there is a lot of competition. I've seen a lot of interns come and go - some of them were good, others not so much, so I thought I'd share some tips and advice. I actually landed my job through a work placement for a newspaper. The editor of the paper was impressed and referred me on to the editor of AW who was looking for a junior writer. That's why I truly believe a good internship can help you land your dream job.

The Application Process

Before you send out your CV and cover letter CHECK IT, then get your mum to check it, then a tutor, then a friend... you get what I mean. In the magazine world a misspelt word or badly formed sentence will put you straight in the recycle bin. Your CV also needs to be relevant. An editor won't care that you worked in Primark every Saturday for two years, or that your first job was on a paper round (do people still do that?!). As for the cover letter, you need to let your passion shine through. If you want to help out on fashion shoots state what photographers or designers you like or if you're a budding writer mention a favourite journalist or role model. You should also mention what sections or (if you really want to impress) what articles you liked in the magazine you're applying for.

The Interview

If the editor likes your application they might invite you in for an interview. This is your chance to impress them so come with lots of enthusiasm but don't appear to cocky - the editor wants someone who will be able to work without causing any trouble. Most people are extremely nervous during interviews but editors will understand that it's normal and are unlikely to hold it against you (unless you're a quivering wreck, in which case journalism might not be for you...). If the interviewer says 'I see you were part of your college basketball team' don't reply with a simple 'yeah I was' say something along the lines of 'yes, it was really fun because I became really close to the team and we worked really well together'. By pointing certain parts of your CV the interviewer is inviting you to talk more about it and demonstrate how it helped you develop skills.

Making an Impression

Starting an internship can be quite daunting. I remember being so shy I didn't really talk to anyone during my first few placements. But if you're a hard worker and you show enthusiasm and passion this will outshine a loud, confident personality hands down. Even though I was quiet I got on with my work, always asked if there was anything extra I could do and didn't show I was upset at having to do menial jobs. This led to me being called back to help on other shoots or cover journalists away on holiday quite a few times - one of which was paid.

Soak it Up Spongebob

To make the most out of your time at a work placement ask as many questions as possible and offer to help out your colleagues when they seem to have a lot on. Show interest in their work and ask for tips on how to get into the industry. The magazine world is not as bitchy as you'd think and most journos will love to get the chance to talk about themselves! By showing an interest it demonstrates that you are serious about a career in journalism and that you're willing to learn. Questions are also a great way to get conversations started, especially if you're shy.

The (un)official top four mistakes an intern can make...

1) Getting too comfortable

Don't assume that a placement gives you some sort of entitlement - remember that you're still at a stage where you need to prove yourself. One girl got so comfortable on a placement with us that she decided to have a full-on personal phone conversation in the office. Distracting, rude and unprofessional.

2) Becoming a bug-a-boo

Interns who call incessentantly for a job after their placement are reffered to (by me, anyway) as bug-a-boos. These lot will call everyday for months on end to see if there's been any progress, and while having drive and tenacity is good, be careful that you don't come across as a stalker. Injunctions are time consuming and expensive.

3) Silence

Yes it's fine to be shy, but if someone asks you a question or talks to you it's polite to reply back with more than just a nod or yes/no. I remember one intern who would sit in front of the computer all day doing one task and refused to engage in conversation.

4) Unreliability

This is a biggie. To make it in journalism (or any type of job for that matter) you need to be reliable. This means; no last minute cancellations, asking for time off without giving much or any notice or being consistently late. In my books unreliabilty is a big no-no and it's unlikely that I'll work with someone again if they let me down (unless it's a very good reason).

I hope this has helped some budding journalists who are looking to get their foot through the door. I know it can suck doing what is ultimately working for free, but it's a tough industry to get into but having relevant experience will give you that extra edge. These days editors want someone who knows how the industry works. They won't have the time or money to hire you only to have to train you up on the basics so think of internships as an extension of your course or degree.

Finally, read up on employment laws and make sure you aren't being exploited. See if there is a way for the company can pay for expenses, especially if you intern somewhere for over three months.

Were these tips helpful? Are there any journalists or budding journalists that could offer some more advice?

Sami xx

Stella McCartney Sheer Stella

2011-09-21T07:10:00.000-07:00

Normally I wouldn't go for an Eau de Toilette fragrance as they tend to be very light (call me crazy but I actually like to smell my perfume), but Stella Sheer really took me by surprise. I haven't smelt the original Stella fragrance so I can't draw any similarities or differences between the two but I guess this is meant to be the lighter, summer version. It's heart notes include rose and lemon, which give it the zingy, fresh scent that lingers on all day, but this is then sweetened with top notes of grape and plum. The rose really comes through, which might not be to everyone's taste but once it settles the sweeter, fruity scents really come out. I know that fragrance is something extremely personal to each individual and it cannot really be summed up in words but I've received so many compliments when I wear it - something that never happens when I wearany other perfume. If you're looking for a light, everyday, non-offensive fragrance then I'd urge you to check this out - people won't be able to stop sniffing you!

Stella McCartney Sheer Stella Eau de Toilette 100ml £39, Escentual.com

Other fail-safe fragrances I love: D&G Blue, Hugo Boss Orange, Glow by JLo, The Body Shop White Musk, CK One

Sami xx

bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment

2011-09-13T13:49:00.000-07:00

Earlier this year bareMinerals launched their first ever skincare range, which included cleansers, eye treatments and moisturisers. The range is quite fabulous (more on that another day), but the one product that stood out to me the most was their Pure Night Transformation Treatment. Packed with Active Soil complex (derived from pure minerals found deep under ground) it's specially designed to be used in the last step of your night time skincare routine. It works in two ways: firstly by penetrating deep into the skin while you sleep to help accelerate cell turnover and leave you with luminous skin, and secondly it acts as a night-time foundation (in case you have company... if you know what I mean... hah!) Taking off every trace of makeup has been ingrained into me since I started to wear makeup, so the thought of putting on face powder last thing at night horrified me. I know I'm not exactly selling this but bear with me - it gets better...

You swirl the brush around the powder, which is attached to the lid, tap off any excess and buff into the skin. The first thing I noticed was how soft and fluffy the brush was, which meant that the powder applied ever so lightly and you could barely feel it. It also creates a light veil around the skin making it look luminous and fresh. It's tempting to use during the day but bear in mind that it doesn't contain SPF.

The Results

My skintone has evened out considerably since using this and it has calmed down the redness around my cheeks BUT it hasn't helped reduce pores at all. In fact because the pores around my cheeks are quite large it seems to have created the odd blackhead. Other then that it's a fab product. My skin appears even and less oily. I also look semi-alive in the mornings although the only one to benefit from that, other than me, is my cat.

The bareMinerals Pure Transformation Night Treatment is priced at £45 and you can purchase it from here

What night treatments do you love to use? I get lazy and sleep with nothing on sometimes (on my skin, obvs)!

Sami x

A Magic Wand

2011-09-11T09:21:00.000-07:00

No, not the type of wand you'd find Harry Potter waving about (does he even have a wand? I never really got into the books or films...), this is the new curling wand from Cloud Nine. Cloud Nine are most well known for their hair straighteners, which from reviews I've seen online, are apparently good enough to rival GHDs, so I had high hopes for this gadget.

On first glance I was seriously impressed. The packaging is luxurious and indulgent (good for us, not so great for the environment so make sure you recycle people...). It's also quite big and heavy, which makes it a bit difficult to use at first, but the size means you can create any type of curl you want. It also comes in three heat settings depending on your hair type and the kind of curl you want.

It also comes with a heat guard

Corkscrew curls

If you want to recreate that perm you had back in the 80's (okay not the best example... let's say you want Taylor Swift curls) this is the best method for you.take small sections and wind it around the top half of the wand on a low heat. Perms aren't

Boho waves

Take larger sections of hair and wind them around the wand using the highest heat setting. Once your hair has cooled run your fingers through it to loosen them up a bit more.

Glamorous curls

This is probably the most popular style of curl at the moment and the one I go for most of the time. Take medium sections of hair and wind it around the bottom half of the wand to get bigger, bouncier curls. Use the best heat setting depending on your hair type. Mine is quite thick and I straightened it beforehand so I went for the higest setting.

Et voilà...

The Good

The time I spend curling my hair has lessened considerably. The wand take a few seconds to heat up and you simply wind your hair around it, leave for a further few seconds and release. Simples

The Bad

Even on the lowest heat setting this thing gets really hot. I can't tell you the amount of times I've burnt my arm and hands using it. They do include a little black glove but I still found it a bit fiddly to use.

FYI

The Cloud Nine wand costs £119..95 and is available from here

Curling addicts will love this gadget as it's so quick to use, although better for smaller curls rather than large ones.

Has anyone else tried the wand? What are your favourite ways to curl your hair??

Sami xx

Foundation Collection and Review

2011-09-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

The perfect foundation is, for some, an elusive dream. I've been there - trying brand after brand to find something that gives me a flawless, luminous-but-not-shiny, slightly matte, even, blemish-free, pore-reducing, long-lasting, natural glow. Is it any wonder that I still haven't found it?!

Although I'm yet to discover the perfect foundation I have come across some that are really amazing... and some that aren't so much, so I thought I would share my years of research (part scientific, part opinion) with you. My collection is pretty big and I still have a few more products that I want to test out properly before reporting back on them. But, please bear in mind that this is an accumulation of products that I've either bought or received over the years and as I don't normally wear much foundation I've managed to amass a big collection!

MAC Face and Body Foundation in C42 £20

I've only heard good things about Face and Body and rightly so. It's lightweight, sheer, cost effective and suits most skin types. The only problem is that it's a bit too sheer, which means it's not going to cover blemishes or even out skintone. Instead it gives you a slightly more luminous, just-came-back-from-having-a-posh-facial, natural glow. It's great for normal or dry skin but if yours is in bad condition or quite oily then it's not going to do anything for you.

6/10

Guerlain Terracotta Skin Foundation in Brunette £33

This is a new launch from Guerlain which came out for summer to coincide with their annual Terracotta collection. The consistency is like a mousse - fluffy and light and it blends in to my skin like a DREAM. I am seriously impressed with this foundation because it's lightweight and smooth, yet it makes my skin look absolutely flawless and feels so silky (seriously, I couldn't stop stroking my face). The only downside is the lack of shades. I have the brunette shade which is a lot darker than any other foundation I use but somehow it adapts to my skintone (don't ask me how, but it does) and enhances it.

9/10

Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser in Fawn £33

Although this isn't technically a foundation it comes under the same family and it's quite brilliant so I thought I'd include it. For those who don't like to look like they're wearing makeup, yet still want healthy looking skin this is the product for you. It's quite thick in consistency but once you've blended it into your skin (I just use my fingers) and let sink in it feels a lot lighter. My skin didn't look amazing, but it had a nice dewy summer glow. It's also oil free which means that most skin types can use it. Oh... and it has an SPF 20!

7/10

MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC42 £23

As you can see from the picture this is one of my first ever foundations. I wanted something with a gel-like consistency because at the time my skin was really dry. It's actually really good foundation but I find it gets overshadowed by the MAC Studio Fix Fluid (I've never tried it - is it any good?) which is a shame. The coverage is brilliant and it creates a silky smooth base but I find it to be too heavy to wear during the day it'sI thinned down with a tiny bit of Strobe Cream or a moisturiser. However, for the quality and relatively low price I'd say this is worth purchasing - especially if you like full coverage.

8/10

NARS Sheerglow Foundation in Barcelona £29.50

This is another foundation I bought after seeing amazing reviews for it online (I'm so easy, I know...). Although I found the coverage just right (not too heavy, not too light) it had a drying effect on my skin and towards the end of the day it started to crack and look scaly.... Eeek! I have combination skin so it might be because of that. It usually glides on and looks very natural if I really prep, buff and moisturise my skin first but sadly I don't reach for it as much as the others.

5/10

Sleek Skin Revive Foundation £7.30

I haven't used this foundation as much as the others purely because it doesn't sit very well on my face. I don't know if it's because of it's silicone-base or because the consistency is thick but I just don't feel that my skin looks any better when I apply it. It's a shame because I like Sleek and I love that they have such a wide range of shades for all skintones but this product does nothing for me.

4/10

No7 Instant Radiance Foundation £7.49

I'm a bit of a foundation snob so naturally I assumed this would be rubbish, but luckily I was wrong. It gives my skin medium coverage and leaves it looking really dewy and luminous. I'm in love with the consistency too because it's quite watery and blends easily.

8/10

MyFace MyMix Foundation £12.99

Another foundation that's thrown a spanner in the works. MyFace is a high street brand that could actually rival it's more expensive counterparts. The texture and finish is similar to Face and Body but it has a slightly heavier finish which means my skin looks uh-mazing. The only issue I had with this product was that the water seperates after a while (about a year) so when you go to squeeze it out you get this oily water come out first.

7/10

Illamasqua Skinbase Foundation £22.50

Another new launch for this year, Illamsqua have created a foundation based around the widely-hyped (and slightly over-rated in my opinion) BB Creams. It claims to cover blemishes, reduce pores, eliminate shine, etc - and I have to say it really does work. I find that after I use this product I don't need concealer or powder. Oh - and it comes in a huge variety of shades so will suit any and every skintone. Rubbish, difficult to use packaging but amazing product.

9/10

Maybelline The Eraser Protect and Cover Foundation

This is one of those high street products that overpromises and under-delivers (it claims to conceal and erase blemishes, lines and wrinkles). Now, correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure that a foundation can't cover wrinkles and lines. Saying that, it did conceal my blemishes and the spongey applicator is a fun novelty that makes the whole foundation application process a bit more enjoyable. The shade is also totally wrong for me, which brings me to my next point... Why is it so hard to colour match drugstore foundations? Most of the testers are either missing or too manky to use so I'm usually left with the wrong shade... And please do not get me started on the shop assistants...

4/10

Bare Minerals Original Foundation £23

I've always streered clear of powder formulas because I assumed they gave a matte finish, so imagine my surprise when I used this and found my skin looking luminous and glowy! Yes, they are fiddly to use at the best of times ('tap, swirl, buff' - I'm more of a slap it on kinda gal...) But I must say the finish you get with this foundation is so worth the effort. This is especially good for those who have sensitive skin or are prone to redness because it's made from natural ingredients and the powder counteracts any red patches.

8/10

I feel like this post has taken a lifetime to write and I'm slightly horrified by the amount of foundation I have (especially since I don't wear much) but I hope it's been somewhat helpful. One thing I'd like to mention is that I haven't really commented on the staying power of these foundations because I personally found that none of them stayed on all day unless I used primer/powder and did touch ups during the day. If anyone knows one that lasts all day long - holla!

Has anyone used any of the above foundations? What were your thoughts?

Sami x

The Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette

2011-09-05T06:09:00.000-07:00

To celebrate their 15th anniversary Urban Decay have released a special palette with 15 never-seen before eye shadows. I've been a huge fan of UD palettes since getting hold of the Naked palette last year. The quality and colour range just blew me away and since then it's developed into something of an (expensive) obsession. This new one comes in a luxurious purple boxed encased with velvet, which you remove to discover a gorgeous shiny metal box with a jewel version of their logo.

15 gorgeous new eyeshadow colours

I love how this palette has a great range of colours to suit any look. There's some really deep blues and blacks to create a smokey look, shimmery golds and browns for something more neutral looking and vivid greens, purples and pinks for a more experimental look. As you can see from the swatches a lot of the colours are really pigmented and apply like butter but there are a few shades that are a bit chalky and difficult to work with.

SNOG

Vanilla, Flow, Omen, Junkshow

MARRY

Midnight 15, Chase, Deep End, Evidence, M.I.A, Ace, Deeper

AVOID

Midnight Rodeo, Tainted, Blackout, Half Truth

The anniversary palette is available from House of Fraser and Debenhams and cost's £39, which is quite pricey, especially as there are no extras like eye pencils or a primer potion. But saying that, you can't get these colours from any other palette or alone so for that reason (oh.... and it's amazing quality - on par with MAC in my opinion) I'd say treat yourself!

Has anyone tried the Urban Decay palettes out? What were your thoughts? Do you think it's overpriced?

Sami xx

How (not) to model

2011-09-02T13:43:00.000-07:00

As well as writing the beauty content for Asian Woman magazine I handle all model applications. Unlike other magazines who go through agents we welcome regular readers and professional models to contact us directly. The main reason for this is that it's hard to find south Asian models, especially as some don't fit height requirements needed to join an agency. Although this gives budding models a great opportunity to work with us it also means that we get the odd dodgy email...

Here are a few examples* of how NOT to apply for a modelling gig:

Don't send images of yourself in underwear (we're not that kind of magazine...)

If you only have images of you in underwear please remember to get a bikini wax first

Never, ever send an email addressed Dear Sir/Madam - always check the name of the fashion or beauty

person either by scanning the masthead of the publication or make a quick call to find out

Emails addressed to a rival publication will be deleted

Don't send images that are 2000MB as they take up a lot of memory and clog up the inbox

Don't send images that cover or distort your face

Don't send your CV

When asked for your height don't reply with the following: 'quite tall','??'

If possible send 2-3 recent photographs rather than a detailed description of how you look

Don't just forward an email that you sent to another publication

If you've emailed us and we reject your application please don't attempt to reapply again... and again... and again...

Good luck ;-)

Sami xx

*These examples are based on just some of the weird and wonderful emails I receive on a daily basis... Unfortunately none of them have been made up...

Body Butters

2011-09-01T08:39:00.000-07:00

Before I learnt how to use an eyeliner or understood the appeal of a good lipstick I would collect body butters and lotions. It began with Bang on the Door beauty products (who remembers that?!) and gradually upgraded to The Body Shop. Now I'm fortunate enough to work in the beauty industry so I get to discover all sorts of brands. And because I suffer from dry skin I'm always on the look out for the perfect body lotion/butter.

One brand that has really impressed me is Pacifica. Originally from the USA they specialise in candles, fragrances and body butters - all gorgeously scented to transport you to an exotic tropical island. The Waikiki Pikake Body Butter £17 has the most amazing banana scent and left my skin feeling as smooth as silk. Despite the tropical smell I prefer to use this in the winter as it's super thick and creamy. You can purchase it here.

Another body range I came across recently is Victoria's Secret. I spotted their new Coconut Passion range at duty free (VS isn't available in the UK as of yet) and snapped up the body butter immediately. The consistency is quite grainy like a body souffle but it absorbs into the skin quickly leaving it feeling smooth as peach! The scent is also divine - think creamy coconut with a fruity twist. Unfortunately you can only get VS products from the USA or duty free but for a few quid more you can buy it online here.

OTHER NOTABLE BODY BUTTERS:

The Body Shop Coconut Body Butter, Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter, Vaseline Cocoa Butter Gel

Does anyone have any other recommendations? I'm thinking of trying the Bliss body butter next...

Sami x

A special occasion...

2011-08-30T16:28:00.000-07:00

Hello! Just a quick a post to wish everyone Eid Mubarak... After a month of fasting Muslims all over the world celebrate by eating, visiting family and exchanging gifts on this special day.

Every year me and my friends buy clothes to mark the occasion and spend most of the day posing and taking the pics! (Only joking... kinda....) This year I bought material for my mum to make an outfit (the woman is a genius with the sewing machine), which meant I could decide on everything from the length to fit. I went for an emerald green suit with purple embroidery.
Make up was quite boring... I wanted to go for a smokey green eye but felt it was a bit much with the outfit (maybe for a wedding...) I also wore MAC Up the Amp lipstick which looked amazing with the green.

Cue slightly dodgy pics taken at the end of the day...

I hope everyone had a lovely day - whether you celebrate Eid or not :)

Sami xx

Iman Cosmetics: An Introduction

2011-08-29T04:16:00.000-07:00

Iman Cosmetics is a makeup and beauty brand which was created by the gorgeous supermodel - Iman. Her general brand ethos is that the products should enhance your skin rather than disguise it and so each product in the range is created to either give you a glow or luminosity. It's also made with darker skin tones in mind (Rihanna is known to be a fan). If you are a Woman of Colour (WOC) I'm sure you'll understand that it can be difficult to find makeup to suit you (although a lot of high end brands have started to recognise this gap in the market - but more of that in another post...) and so Iman Cosmetics have devised a range of colours for those difficult to place skin tones. For example, in general I am quite tanned/dark, but in the Asian community I'm considered light skinned so you can imagine trying to find the right makeup is damn confusing!

Here's a quick review of some of their products and my thoughts...

Semi-Loose Powder in Sand Medium £19.55

Asian and black skin are more susceptible to getting oily skin and this mineral powder is made to absorb any shine without making your skin look dull and dry. It did give good coverage and my skin looked a lot better after applying it. You have to twist the top half to get the powder out (check out my nifty 'diagram' below) but this can be tricky and I ALWAYS end up with too much. You can also see by the pics that the powder is quite chunky and so the coverage is quite heavy.

Luminous Blushing Powder Duo in Allure £12.60

These duo blushers can be used together, or separately to create a contoured look. I found there was a lot of fallout and as the colours are so deeply pigmented you have to be careful not to grab too much on to your brush. The deep brown shade was way too dark for me but would be perfect for contouring if you have very dark skin. The peach shade was a lot more flattering and would suit most skintones.

Cream-to-Powder Foundation in Sand 4 £20.80

This is one of those wierd products that applies like a powder and turns into a creamy consistency when it comes into contact with your skin, presumably to make it easier to blend and give a softer finish. It did leave my skin more luminous but it was also drying (I have combination skin). It also gives quite heavy coverage so I'd save it for evenings out or special occasions.

Overall Iman Cosmetics do deliver. It's certainly not for everyone and most of their products are designed for darker women with oily skin. But the general quality of is good and very luxurious. If you find yourself envying Rihanna's makeup definitely give these products a go. It also comes in a good range of shades so you're sure to find your perfect match. Click here for a better guide. My only issue is that the packaging is AWFUL. most of the products are too big and bulky and the lids are easily broken. It wouldn't be a huge issue but I'm guessing that the high price points are partly due to the packaging so you'd want to get your money's worth.

Iman Cosmetics are available from feelunique.com

Has anyone else tried Iman Cosmetics? What were your thoughts??

Sami xx

PS My disappearance from GlamSam this month is mainly due to it being Ramadan. For those of you who aren't familiar with it it's the holiest month in the Islamic calendar and requires you to fast from sunrise to sunset. This basically means no eating or drinking between the hours of 4am and 8pm... Which I must say has been pretty TOUGH! It has however really opened up my eyes to a lot of things and made me realise that the human body can survive without junk food and caffeine. Saying that, I can't wait to grab my morning hazelnut latte once this month is over! If you have any questions about Ramadan and fasting drop me an email, and to those who have been fasting - Ramadan Mubarak! xx

Marc Jacobs Daisy: The hot pink edition

2011-08-07T03:39:00.000-07:00

In case you don't already know I am in LOVE with anything pink, so you can imagine how excited I was when I saw that Marc Jacobs would be releasing a hot pink limited edition bottle of his signature scent Daisy. The bottle itself is a gorgeous glossy black with hot pink flowers on the lid and the scent is much richer and sweeter than the original.

I've never been a fan of the original Daisy as I prefer perfumes that are a bit stronger and ACTUALLY SMELL LIKE SOMETHING. Some fragrances have a lovely light scent but I wouldn't fork out £40 for a perfume that lingered for about 30 seconds before wearing off! Anyway, back to the point... The LE Daisy fragrance has notes of fresh wild strawberry, jasmine and gardenia which gives it a great balance between being floral and sweet, without becoming too sickening. I'm currently wearing it and can't stop sniffing myself... Mmmm

The hot pink edition of Daisy is available to buy from August 24th for a limited time only and costs £60 for 100ml

Is anyone a fan of Daisy? What other Marc Jacobs scents do you recommend?

Sami xx

Xmas in July

2011-08-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

The media world is all about forward thinking and PRs usually reveal the latest products and fashion pieces well in advance. This is mainly to adhere to magazine lead times (I'm currently wrapping up autumn features would you believe!) but can pose a bit of a problem with the online world, which usually publish news daily.

For the past two weeks I've been attending these 'Xmas in July' events where I've munched on mince pies and marvelled at Xmas trees, as well as view hundreds (okay maybe not that much...) of gift sets and new products. I don't want to harp on about beauty products that are out in November because chances are they aren't really relevant right now. I have however compiled a sneak peek at what will be out, for which I will give a more detailed review of later...

Urban Decay 15th anniversary eyeshadow palette (*scream*) and Urban Decay starlight glitter body art set

The Body Shop xmas makeup collection and Me Me Me's relaunched makeup

Umberto Gianni's makeup palette and Superdrug colourworks palette

Swarovski encrusted candles from The Gift Library and This Works beauty xmas crackers

Supersized Philip Kingsely shampoo and conditioner & Superdrug Thai Spa coconut candle

The Body Shop xmas gift sets and Soap & Glory xmas gift sets

What do you guys think? Is it too soon to plan for Christmas?!

Sami x

Smells like summer

2011-07-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

It feels a bit weird discussing summer scents when the weather's been so awful here in the UK... But hey, on the odd chance a bit of sunshine does peek through the thunderclouds here are my favourite summer scents of right now....

CK One Summer

Despite the garish rainbow print bottle, which I love and hate in equal measures, this perfume is actually rather nice. CK One perfumes are unisex so it's quite masculine, which I quite like. I'm also a huge fan of the original (it's up there in my all time top ten) and this version is similar but has citrus notes that makes it perfectly refreshing for those hot, sticky summer days.

Available from Debenhams for the Duty Free price of £24.16

Beyonce Heat Rush

When I got my hands on Beyonce's second fragrance I expected something quite sexy and powerful to reflect her and her personality, what I got instead was the most tooth-achingly sweet smell ever. Top notes include blood orange, passion fruit and mango blossom. Don't get me wrong, I love the fruity scent but I am somewhat confused over the whole marketing of it. To me, Heat connotes something sexy and strong, which this isn't. It's still a favourite of mine and the scent stays on all day, which is a major bonus.

Available from The Perfume Shop for £19.99

D&G L'Imperatrice

This was THE scent for me last summer. I wore it pretty much everyday and couldn't stop harping on about it! It's still one of my favourites and I actually wear it all year round despite it's refreshingly sweet summery scent. The bottle is also huge so you get great value for money. If you're a fan of sweet, fruity scents you need this in your collection.

Available from The Perfume Shop for £37.50

What are your favourite summer scents?

Sami x

Body Oils

2011-07-25T14:30:00.000-07:00

Body oils have been an obsession for a while now. It began with Johnson's Baby Oil (the Aloe Vera one is DIVINE) and then I discovered other, slightly more moisturising versions, like The Sanctuary Massage Oil. I'm such a body oil maniac that at one point I started slathering on Olive oil after my shower, which by the way, is incredibly moisturising and decadent. Here are my favourite three at the moment...

Aromatherapy Associates Renew Rose Massage & Body Oil, £36

This is by far my favourite body oil at the moment. It has the most beautiful rose scent and applies quite thick making it ideal to use before bed. I usually apply it at night after my shower or if my skin's feeling a bit dry. It can also be used as a massage oil, although I haven't that tried yet (boo).

Available here

Dr Hauschka Rose Body Oil £19.95

Another rose oil, but slightly lighter and less scented. I really like this because it doesn't leave me with that sticky, heavy feeling that some others do. The scent is not as overpowering and in-yer-face as Aromatherapy Associates but it still manages to linger a while after you apply it. The pump is also much easier to use and causes minimal mess, which is important for a klutz like me.

Available here

Carita Fluide de Beaute14 Ultra Nourishing Dry Oil £37.80

This one's slightly different from the other two as it's a dry oil, which basically means you simply spray it on and it melts into the sink with minimal residue or mess. It also has a fresher, zesty scent making it ideal to use during the day. Carita is a luxury french beauty brand and this particular product is their most famous. It's light texture means you can use it on you hair and face too (although I don't recommend doing this before you go out unless you want to look like you've dipped your head in a vat of chip oil....

Available here

Those are my favourite three body oils at the moment. I desperately want to try the Ren Moroccan Rose Otto body oil but I've got an obscene amount of products to get through before I can even think about buying new stuff! Any other recommendations?

Sami x

The Body Shop White Musk Libertine

2011-07-23T11:21:00.000-07:00

This week I've been dashing around attending various Xmas beauty launches (I know, I know... the press work in advance...) One in particular that caught my eye was the launch of The Body Shop's new White Musk collection titled Libertine.

White Musk was the first fragrance I ever bought as a teen and I loved how affordable yet gorgeously scented it was. Now, to commemorate it's 30th Anniversary The Body Shop are bringing out White Musk Libertine, a slightly more floral, sweet version. Notes include Orchid, Chantilly cream, Turkish Delight and, of course, Musk! The collection will include body lotion, shower gel and body mists.

I was given the eau de parfum which comes in a beautiful frosted glass bottle. The range is priced between £7 to £12, which I think is great value for money. My only issue was that for an eau de parfum the scent doesn't last very long at all. It takes about five minutes before the scent settles and becomes faint.

I'm a HUGE fan of musk so this is something I'd definitely recommend! If you're interested the collection will be available from October.

www.thebodyshop.com

Sami x

A new start (sort of)

2011-07-17T15:30:00.000-07:00

Just a quick shout to let you all know that I'm still here! Over the past few weeks I'd lost my love for blogging and just 'wasn't feeling it'. I was also unhappy with the direction the blog was taking so I've made a few tweaks and although it's not 100% to my satisfaction I'm feeling a lot more positive about it now.

Nothing's really changed but I am going to post about a wider variety of topics and try and do more in-depth reviews. I hope you'll all keep reading and I would love any feed back :)

Speak soon,

Sami x

Beauty Desk Essentials

2011-06-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

Working on the beauty desk for Asian Woman magazine means I need to be prepared for anything, whether it's a last minute meeting, after work drink or an interview with Amir Khan (well, a girl can dream...), so I've compiled a list of desk essentials in case any of these occasions arise....

Excuse the mess...

Lanolips 101 Ointment - multi use balms are great for the occasional dry patch of skin, insect bite or unexplained rash... another good alternative is Sudocrem, which gets rid of dry flaky skin instantly.

L'occitaine Cherry Hand Cream - my hands feel really dry after I use handwash so this is great for keeping them soft and it smells amazing too.

Tous H2O Perfume - I love fresh, crisp scents in the summer and this one is perfect for an office (you don't want to intoxicate your colleagues with something too strong)

Boots Foot Odour Spray - this is a must during the summer when I'm wearing sandals. It really freshens your feet and stops them from getting sweaty (sorry... TMI)

Dove Lip Balm - this is a no brainer...

Umberto Giannini Backcome in a Bottle - my hair has a habit of going pancake flat after a few hours so I usually spray the roots with this too give it some volume.

Umberto Giannini Curl Hairspray - do not be fooled by its name - I use it on straight hair too... Great if I'm sick of my hair and I want to put it up.

MAC MSF Natural - this is seriously a God send... it eradicates any shine or redness without making it look like I've caked on another layer of makeup... love, love love...

Jurlique Hand Sanitizer - I hate the flowerly disinfectant smell of most hand sanitizers but this one is really lightly scented.

Nail Polish - this changes depending on my mood...

Hairband - specially reserved for deadline days when even the slightest bit of hair in my face can be a nuisance

So there you go - my not so comprehensive list of desk essentials. Bear in mind that the things I use change from day to day, but if I were to choose my top products it would be these.

How do you organise your desks at home and work?

Sami xx

The Bright Lipstick: NARS Schiap

2011-06-13T14:35:00.000-07:00

In the past few years I amassed quite a big collection of bright lipsticks, most of which are pink. It's weird because I don't actually wear them on a day to day basis so ultimately they just end up wasting away in my makeup bag.

Now I've decided enough is enough - I need to start using them more often, and what better time to start than summer (the ss/11 catwalk shows were awash with bright, bold pops of colour on the lips dontcha know...)

So for the next few weeks I'll be trialling as many bright lippies as I can find and reporting back on which ones are the best. To get things started... NARS lipstick in Schiap....

I blame Jameela Jamil for this purchase.The ever-gorgeous one raved about this particular lipstick on Twitter a few weeks ago and it.had.to.be.mine.

Described as a 'shocking pink' it really packs a punch - heck, there were times I scared myself looking in the mirror because it was so bright! It's definitely a statement colour that needs to be worn with a lot of confidence.

The texture is also semi-matte which means it didn't dry out my lips and stayed on from 8am to 4pm (yup - it passed the coffee drinking/croissant eating test).

I'm loving this lipstick - what do you guys think? Too much for the tube?!

Sami xx

Magazine Freebies

2011-06-12T13:56:00.000-07:00

This month the glossies have really outdone themselves in the freebie stakes. Glamour, who are known for being quite generous (anyone remember the Clinque free gift or last year's full sized Benefit products?!), are giving away three miniature Benefit products. These include: High Beam. Bene Tint and Posie Tint.

I picked up High Beam which gives cheekbones the most gorgeous luminosity. The shimmer content is limited so you don't look like a disco ball. I pat mine on over the top of my cheekbones and blend in with my fingers - simples!

My friend picked up Bene Tint, although personally I'm not a huge fan of it. I got a makeover ages ago at a Benefit counter and the woman put some on my cheeks - let's just say the raspberry red blusher effect made me look like a very scary baby doll... But don't be put off! I think it just didn't gel with my skin colour - on paler skin or very dark skin I can see this looking fantabulous.

You might be able to tell from the first picture that these free gifts are not full size. I'd say they're about a third of the original size, but if you're not familliar with the products it's a good way to experiment with them. I'm thinking of picking up Posie Tint - is it any good??

Sami xx

PS - Other magazine freebies that might interest you...

Marie Claire - Inika eye makeup

Company - 2 in 1 eyeliner

Elle - Reiss vest top

Red - Jemma Kidd lipgloss

Asian Woman Magazine (shamless promotion I know!! haha) - Sleek Caribbean collection subscription offer

Topshop Makeup

2011-05-30T12:16:00.000-07:00

Yes - I've succumbed to Topshop Makeup! It was love at first swatch after a few bits came into the office last week (if you recall in my my previous post I said their lilac lipstick wasn't quite right for my colouring but the formula was really lovely), so I decided to check the website to see what else they had.

The range is decent for a relatively new brand and the price points were surprisingly low considering that the quality is so good. I came back with a few bits including: Lipstick in Brighton Rock, Gloss Stick in Glisten, Eye Crayon in Equinox, a Lip Brush, Eyeshadow in Good as Gold (this was actually sent in to me). And as a special promotion, if you buy three or more makeup products you get a special 'festival kit' which includes face wipes and an eyeliner) - and they also have 20% off for students for a limited time so get down there and bag yourself a bargain!

The Lip Products

Brighton Rock is a creamy-matte pink, which looks a lot brighter in real life - LOVE this

Glisten is a darker raspberry pink that applies sheer. It's not as overpowering as a lipstick so it's ideal to wear during the day or at work.

The Eye Products

The eyeshadows are OK and as you can see from the swatch it isn't nearly as pigmented as the MAC and Illamasqua eyeshadows. The crayon on the other hand applies really easily and has a really glossy metallic finish. The eyeliner looks a bit like the felt tip pens I had at school - super easy and fun to use! If you're a beginner at doing winger eyeliner or just want to experiment then I'd highly recommend it to you.

My Topshop Face

Products used: Crayon in Equinox, layered with Gold as Gold Eyeshadow, Topshop eyeliner and Lipstick in Brighton Rock

To sum up - I'm loving Topshop makeup. My only bugbear is that I didn't check their stuff out earlier! I might pick up some more lip and face products but I think I'll skip the eyeshadows (too chalky).

You can purchase their products here.

Anyone else loving Topshop Makeup as much as me?

Sami x

Lilac lips

2011-05-26T13:51:00.000-07:00

In the interests of beauty journalism and a way to get out of my comfort zone I decided to try something different today. Step up Topshop Lipstick in On the Town - a creamy lilac lip colour (I can see a pattern emerging here... first yellow nails, now purple lipstick... what next? Perhaps a fetching silver blush to complete the look?) Frst impressions were: that looks RIDICS. Who wears this stuff?! But after swatching it I found the colour to be quite nice and had I been about two shades lighter it might have suited me.

See the problem is because it's such a light, metallic shade it kind of makes me look like a corpse... and not in a hot ghost/vampire way. So that's my foray into lilac lipstick. I probably won't be wearing it again, which is a shame because the texture and consistency was so creamy and opaque yet the colour is totally wrong for my skintone. I'll definitely be trying more from the Topshop range though.

What do you guys think? Any other wacky colours out there for me to try?!

Sami x

Nail du Jour: OPI Need Sunglasses

2011-05-25T04:14:00.000-07:00

I'm currently loving yellow nail polish (it's supposed to be the colour to wear this summer). This colour in particular makes me feel happy, like a ray of sunshine coming out of my hands :-) hah! It's also great for a curry lover who wants to avoid discoloured nails when eating with her nails (seriously).

Whose else is rocking yellow nails?

Sami x

Sleek Eye Look

2011-05-21T15:15:00.000-07:00

Here's a quick eye look I did the other day using the new Sleek Nude palette. The matte colours are rich and opaque but I had trouble getting the shimmery tones to show up (as you can see!) Sleek are launching a natural collection around late August which includes this palette, a suede tone blush and nude pout polish. I've only got the palette but I'm interested to see how the blusher looks (not so interested in the pout polish - I hate them!!)

Sami xx

Sleek True Colour Lipsticks

2011-05-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

You may have noticed that the beauty world's been going a little crazy over the new Sleek lippies and rightly so. They come in a range of colours and textures and for £3.99 you can afford to pick up quite a few. The three that I got sent are (from left to right) Coral Reef, Amped and Liqueur (I had a little accident with Coral Reef, as you can see...)

On first impressions these colours looked really vibrant and rich.

Coral Reef, a vivid coral-orange, has a 'Sheen' texture which meant it was really creamy, but also quite messy and difficult to apply - I'd use a lip brush.

Amped was the perfect neon, violet pink but because it's matt I found it really drying.

Finally, Liqueur - a pinky-nude brown that would suit most skintones (although it might be too light for darker skinned ladies).

Has anyone else got hold of these? I'd love to see posts on other colours as I really want to stock up!

Sami xx

White Smoky Eyes

2011-04-27T13:57:00.000-07:00

Hey guys! Just a quick post to show you how I had my hair and makeup for a family wedding last week. I wore white and silver so decided to go for a white smoky eye and muted pink lips. Pics were taken at the end of the night at about 1am, hence why I look so DAMN TIRED... lol

What I Wore

All eyeshadows were from Inglot (you can view my post on that here)

Eyelure Sarah False Lashes

Shu Uemura Gel Liner

Nars Sheerglow Foundation in Barcelona

MAC MSF Natural

MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer

Barry M Blush in Orchid

Dior Amber Diamond

Rimmel Lipstick in Vintage Pink

Illamasqua Lipgloss in Atomic

I love dressing up for weddings - it gives me the chance to really experiment with different makeup looks - especially when I wear bright outfits.

Hope you guys like xx

Sleek Nude Palette

2011-04-24T03:26:00.000-07:00

I was lucky enough to get my hands on the new, much awaited Sleek Nude Palette a few weeks ago at a press event. Needless to say this is a no-brainer - 12 beautiful nude eyeshadows that can be used to create a multitude of looks.

As you can see from my swatches the top row of colours are very opaque, making it ideal for those who prefer a very natural look. The bottom row has a lot more rich chocolatey browns for a deeper, smoky look. Most of the colours are matte (in keeping with the natural look of course) but a few are shimmery in case you want to vamp it up.

Now I know what you're thinking - didn't Urban Decay already do something similar last year with their Naked palette? Well no, the Sleek palette has a lot more variety of browns and a gorgeous matte black, which the Urban Decay palette was lacking.

I personally love this palette - it has every colour I need! If you're on a budget and don't want to blow £30 on the Naked palette I'd say to go for this, because for £6.49 it really is worth it.

What do you guys think? Will you be picking this up when it comes out?!

Sami xx

Inglot Eyeshadow Palettes - where have you been all my life?!??

2011-04-13T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm a little late on the Inglot bandwagon but after reading so many great things about it (amazeballs pigmentation and quality that could rival MAC), I had to check it out. Their main (only??) store is in Westfield and has a HUGE selection of eyeshadows, lipsticks, nail polishes, etc in every colour imaginable. I must say, I was quite restrained and came out with just the one palette but I'll definitely return for some more.

I went for the five pan palette and picked out 'smoky eye' colours. As you can see they swatch quite well (this was after just two swipes). There's a huge variety of colours and the price is very reasonable - five eyeshadows will set you back around £25, which is £5 per eyeshadow. MAC eyeshadows cost double!

To show you how amazing the colours come out I've done a quick smoky eye look...

Photos were done in a rush so apologies for the quality!

I would definitely recommend Inglot for those who are looking to build up their makeup kit but can't afford loads of MAC eyeshadows - the quality is pretty much the same and they put the shadows in a palette for you! You can also pick up blusher or lipstick palettes but I can't vouch for their quality. The only annoying this is that they haven't named the colours so it's harder to describe when doing FOTDs.

Has anyone else tried Inglot eyeshadows? Are there any other products of theirs that I should check out?

Sami x

Illamasqua Precision Ink in Glister

2011-04-10T12:35:00.000-07:00

I first came across this liquid liner a few months ago at the Illamasqua Toxic Nature press event and haven't been able to stop thinking about it since! The colour is something between a murky brown and gold and when worn on the model, looked amazing - it really made the eyes come alive. Then, a few weeks ago I decided it had to be mine and so I bought it.

Since then it's been lying, forgotten, in my drawer. Now don't get me wrong - it's very pretty, but not as versatile as I thought... So after racking my brains I've finally come up with two looks, both incorporating Glister...

For the first look I created a double wing with Glister applied in between and for the second I applied Glister over the eyelid and went over the top with black eyeliner.

TIP: To get a really precise look I used a gel liner and small pointy brush

What do you think? Have you got any other ideas for how I could use Glister?

Sami xx

The Sleek Summer Collections

2011-04-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

Last thursday I was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of Sleek's upcoming summer collection. The event itself was amazing. There were various competitions, fortune tellers and hot topless guys serving food...!

Anyway, back to the makeup - Sleek are launching two summer collections this year (out in June), which consists of a a tinted lip balm, blusher and their famous eyeshadow palette.

I'm loving the explosion of colour in these collections - they're so on-trend for summer! I don't have the Caribbean palette on me but I managed to snap a pic of it at the event. As you can see it's a lot brighter than the Mediterranean palette. Personally, I wouldn't pick up a palette with acid yellows, oranges and reds but I can see how amazing it would look on someone more experimental.

The Mediterranean palette, in my opinion, is a lot more wearable and has an amazing selection of colours. The sea greens and pink in particular stood out to me.

The blushers are EXTREMELY pigmented so I'd advise using a light hand when applying. I think it would look too harsh on very pale skin, but on darker skintones it'd look AMAZING - especially the orange.

The pout polishes look quite scary and pigmented on the pan but when applied gave my lips the faintest hint of colour. It would look better layered over a similar colour lippie but on their own it looks a little blah. It wasn't terribly moisturising either.

What do you think of the new collections? I for one cannot wait to play around with the eyeshadow palette and blushers!

Sami xx

J Lo Inspired Makeup

2011-03-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

Love, love, love JLo's makeup in her latest music video.

To get the look check out HiFashion's blog where I've done a guest post!

Sami xx

MAC haul

2011-03-22T16:11:00.000-07:00

The word 'haul' is used loosely in the title because I got these products at an event and I'm actually on a shopping ban, so I won't be hauling anything for a while. Anyway, here's what I got:

Jeanius Eyeshadow in Stovepipe Black, Creamsheen Lip Glass in Over Indulgence, Lip Glass in Painted On, Sheen Supreme Lipstick in Bare Again

Jeanius Eyeshadow in Stovepipe

As you can see (if you strain your eyes a bit) these eyeshadows have the denim jeans design on them - clever huh?! Well, not really. The copper disc looks cute but it got covered with the black eyeshadow and is nowhere to be found now. The pigmentation was also not that great. It was more of a sooty black (imagine sticking your hand in an oven and scraping off the burnt bits), which meant it was good for creating a slightly more grungy, undone look.

This is how it looks roughly applied over the eyelid and lower lashline - an effortless smoky eye. Not really my thing, but each to their own

Lip Products

MAC always seem to get it right with their lip products. Each lipgloss or lipstick has just the right amount of moisture and shine!

Painted On Lipglass has a lovely milky formula with tiny specks of gold shimmer running through it - looks AMAZE over a pink lippie.

Over Indulgence is one of those glosses that come out incredibly opaque and glossy. The colour is a sort of beige nude, which looks lovely on medium/dark skin.

Bare Again Lipstick is part of the latest Sheen Supreme collection. The texture is super glossy and soft but also quite sheer, making it ideal for the office or a relaxed daytime look. I like to layer it with Over Indulgence for a stronger look.

Bare Again Lipstick + Over Indulgence Creamsheen Glass

Has anyone else tried these products? Am I the only one who wasn't overly excited about the Jeanius eyeshadows?!

Sami xxx

Moroccan Oil Vs Chi Silk Infusion

2011-03-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

I colour, curl and straighten my hair regularly, which means that it's often left feeling dry, brittle and frizzy. For this reason, my quest for silky, smooth hair is never ending and I'm always trying different products and treatments to achieve it. The two treatments I've been using for the last six months is Moroccan Oil and Chi Silk Infusion. I've done a comparison of the two to give you guys a better idea of what they do and which would be better suited for you (I was greedy and had to try both).

Moroccan Oil

What is it? A relatively unknown brand that has become an overnight bestseller, Moroccan oil is known to smooth and tame frizzy hair. I use a coin sized amount over the ends and mid lengths of my hair after towel drying.

Pros: Where do I start? It has the most beautiful sweet, vanilla smell, leaves no greasy residue and instantly absorbs into my hair (I'm sure it also cuts down drying time). I got my first taster when I went for a Morrocan Oil blow dry and noticed that it instantly made my hair softer and shinier (think Barbie doll hair). I was so smitten I bought a bottle straight after!

Cons: It is on the pricey side (a 25ml bottle costs around £13) and can only be found online or certain salons. There's also rumours flying around that it's riddled in silicones (the fake stuff that leaves a plastic coating on hair) but I'm too impressed with the results to care.

Chi Silk Infusion

What is it? Even though I'm happy with the Moroccan Oil I had to see what all the fuss surrounding this cult product was about so I started to alternate between the two treatments.

Pros: This also worked really well and left my hair super-soft and silky. I loved how, like the Moroccan Oil, it didn't leave any grease on my hands and immediately absorbed into my hair.

Cons: I can see how the Chi Silk Infusion helps fight frizz and give hair a glossier texture but my hair's quite thin and it weighed it down a lot. When I tried it for the first time I got a little overexcited and piled it on which just made my hair really greasy and flat. Also, I'm not sure if it's just me but it smelt a bit like cheap men's cologne...?!

Results
Both of these treatments work amazingly well and I'd say they were well worth the money. However, my favourite was the Moroccan Oil because my hair gets greasy really quickly and this was one product that didn't make it worse. I'd recommend the Chi Silk Infusion to those who have very thick, frizzy hair.

Has anyone tried either of these treatments?

Sami x

Quick LOTD - Smoky Green

2011-03-12T09:44:00.000-08:00

The other night I went to a family friend's henna party (henna is applied on the bride's hand the night before her wedding as part of the celebrations). The theme for these parties is usually green (to match the colour of the henna - clever huh?!) so I went for dark smoky green eyes (using the Urban Decay NYC Palette) and teamed it with a nude lip (MAC Lipstick in Faux).

Hope you like it! xx

The Illamsqua Toxic Nature collection

2011-03-06T08:04:00.000-08:00

Last month I attended the press launch for Illamasqua's S/S Toxic Nature collection. There was a presentation by Creative Director Alex Box who showed us how the products could be used. Illamasqua's always been known for it's unique, out-of-the-box collections and their latest one didn't disappoint.

The collection in a nutshell: "Like nature itself, it's not all sweetness and light. Shades of mint, mushroom, plum, orange and rose are distorted with rich textures and pops of acid-infused brightness that command attention and draw you in."

The Cream Pigments

These were the most exciting products from the launch. Inspired art and painting on the face, they have a creamy, matt texture, which melts into your skin beautifully.

The pigmentation on these can be built up to suit you and the look you're going for. Emerge, a lovely peach colour, looked quite daunting at first, but I found it really suited me! Dab (lilac) and Bedaub (mint green) had cool tones which would look amazing washed over lighter skin, but I found that for darker skin it needed to be teamed up with something a little deeper.

Lipsticks

The lipsticks were a surprise for me as I thought that in keeping with the 'Toxic' theme Illamasqua would've gone for more neutral colours, but they were extremely bright and had a matt finish.

Atomic is a fuchsia violet (similar to MAC Show Orchid but with a matt finish) which looked amazing. Flare is an atomic orange, also matt. The colour is similar to MAC Morange but again, with a matt finish. I didn't love Flare at all - it was chalky, hard to apply and looked terrible!

The Lipglosses

Although the lipglosses look really bright and pigmented, they applied sheer. The colours are beautiful and leave your lips feeling sooo glossy, but they are really hard to apply because of the applicator so you'd probably need to use a brush!

The Nail Varnishes

Described as 'toxic pastels' and 'unmissable neons' these nail polishes were definitely unique! Bacterium is very similar to Chanel's Pardoxal, but without the purple tones. Radium also reminded me of the OPI Shrek nail polish - I'm not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing though!

Precision Ink in Glister

I didn't manage to take one of these home with me but it's a light glittery gold liquid liner. Anyone who is familiar with Illamasqua's original Precision Ink will know that they are extremely pigmented and long lasting. I can't wait to get my hands on one!

SNOG, MARRY, AVOID: The beauty edition

Taking inspiration form the BBC3 programme I thought I'd categorise my overall thoughts on the products the same way :-)

SNOG

The lipglosses Don't be fooled by the packaging - these come out very sheer but look lovely when applied.

Stargate nail polish I loved the mushroom tone of this colour, and although it seems a bit strange to wear in summer, it looks amazing!

MARRY

ALL the cream pigments They are seriously impressive and well worth investing in!

Bacterium nail polish It's like a dirty, pearly mauve - contrast at it's best

AVOID

Flare lipstick The colour and formula just didn't work and it's very hard to pull off.

Gamma nail polish I honestly don't have anything against the colour orange! This was just a little too dark for my taste. I prefer coral oranges.

What do you think of the new collection ? What would you snog, marry or avoid?!

Sami xx

CID's New Blush Duo

2011-03-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

I've been using the new *CID i-Blush Illuminated Compact, £24, for a while now (twas my go-to blush/highlighter in Egypt) and must say I kind of like it. Despite having a silly name, it created lovely, defined cheekbones and gave my face a nice glow (the just-stepped-out-of-the-spa kind).

The compact has a rosey pink blush that's deep enough to also be used for contouring, and a pale gold shimmer to use as a highlight. You can use them separately to get more definition, or what I like to do is swirl a big brush around the entire thing and apply on my cheeks for a healthy glow.

Excuse the dodgy hair

The packaging is quite bulky (similar to Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Bricks) and it has little lights by the side of the mirror so you can see yourself at night... I'm guessing?! (very clever but COMPLETELY useless). The only downside was that the product isn't pressed very well so there is a lot of fall out.

I'm totally starting to get the whole blusher/highlighter duo thing now - they're great multi-tasking products that everyone should have!

What do you think? What use could you find for the illuminated mirror?

Sami xx

Can I pull off orange lipstick?

2011-02-27T04:51:00.000-08:00

The answer is no by the way. And here is why....

Sorry about the messy hair - I just washed it!

The lippy I used was *MAC Morange, which is an Amplified Creme colour. As you can see from the close up it's a very bright, almost neon, orange. I love MAC's Amplified lipsticks but this one applied too thick and looked very out of place on my yellow-toned skin.

I can see how on some skintones (very pale or very dark) it would look amazingly juicy... but on me it's a little blah. Oh well - you win some, you lose some :- )

Does anyone else have problems with orange lipsticks?!

Sami

Drugstore foundations... are they any good?

2011-02-23T15:16:00.000-08:00

There was once a time when all my makeup was bought from drugstores... mainly due to a lack of pocket money (I was 13) and also because I had no idea that MAC Face and Body or NARs Sheerglow existed. Then, one day I walked into MAC, discovered Studio Sculpt, and never looked back. Since then I've become so immersed with all the amazing luxury beauty brands out there that I started to neglect the likes of Rimmel, Maybelline and Bourjois - and ultimately became a foundation snob. I just figured that a £30 foundation would work better than a £10 one.

So, in the interests of research I picked two drugstore foundations to test out and see if they were just as good as their expensive counterparts...

Maybelline The Eraser, £9.99

It says: Go beyond covering lines – instantly erase the look of creases, crow’s feet and fine lines. With an applicator exclusively designed to apply the super-concentrated formula, The Eraser instantly fills and smoothes the look of imperfections..

My thoughts: Shocked. This foundation applied really well with the squishy foam head, and it actually created a flawless finish! A lot of my blemishes that I cover with concealer had been concealed and the texture was super light and gave my face a fresh glow.

Drawbacks: Too gimmicky to take seriously and overpromises results

*MyFace MyMix Foundation, £12.99

It says: Myface Mymix Foundation is designed to be in sync with your skin tone and has been professionally mixed and matched by experts according to skin tone. This lightweight formula delivers a modern, retouched finish for an instant image upgrade.

My thoughts: I had low expectations for this foundation because at the time the brand wasn't so well known (my snobbery rearing its ugly head again) but I was actually quite impressed by it. The texture was very lightweight, almost watery, and it applied really smoothly onto my skin. I'd say it was very similar to Face and Body but with just a little more coverage.

Drawbacks: Ugly packaging

I'll always have a special place for higher end foundations but I must say there are some drugstore brands that work just as well. The only real difference I can see is that the variety of shades available with brands like Maybelline are a little more limited. Will I be swapping Selfridges for Superdrug? Probably not. I still love the quality and luxury of high end brands but the makeup addict in me still has an urge to explore other, cheaper alternatives :-)

Is anyone else a makeup snob? Are drugstore brands equally as good as luxury ones?

Sami x

Once you go black...

2011-02-20T14:42:00.000-08:00

.... you never go back. I'm sure there's some sort of dirty connotations that come with that saying but for the purposes of this blog lets think of it in a beauty context... Yes - I've dyed my hair!

If you remember, it used to be a chocolate brown, but after accumulating loads of split ends it began to look dry, dull and lifeless and I felt the colour was washing me out. I didn't want the hassle of going to a hairdressers and coming back with a hideous orange mop on my head so I reached for the home hair dye kit. After oohing and ahhing over a colour I decided to go for a jet black, inspired by the lovely Nicole Scherzinger and Katrina Kaif.

The first one I picked was the L'Oreal Excell 10 in Deep Black

The colour came out well but faded after just a few washes which was disappointing as it's marketed as permanent.

I then tried out Nice N Easy Colour Blend Foam in Black 2

I loved that it came as a foam because it made the application process sooo easy and it didn't smell that bad either. However, the colour just wasn't vibrant enough for my liking.

Finally I picked L'Oreal Feria by Preference in Blackest Black

This definitely gave me the darkest, most vibrant hair colour out of the three but it smelt so strong that my eyes started to sting. It also made my hair super greasy and it took about four shampoos to get all the product out. Not sure if it was worth all that but now my hair is the blackest it can get so I'm not complaining!

I love my black hair and can't imagine going back to brown... what do you guys think? Has anyone had any similar experiences with the mentioned hair colourants?

Sami xx

Egypt: My Beauty Travel Essentials

2011-02-17T14:45:00.000-08:00

Those of you who have been following me on Twitter will know that I was in Egypt, Sharm el Sheikh last week as part of a work trip. Needless to say I had the most amazing time - it is a beautiful country with wonderful spirit and lots of shisha!

I tried to keep my packing to a minimum but, to the horror of my mum, ended up with about five bags of makeup and beauty products... Eeeek. After a lot of deliberation I managed to whittle it down to the essentials and avoid a hefty excess baggage fee. Here's what I took....

MAC Studio Select Concealer, MAC MSF Natural, Shu Uemura Gel Eyeliner, Carmex Cherry Lip Balm, Benefit Pore Minimizer, Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation, L'Oreal Volume Million Lash Mascara, MAC Travel Size Brush Set, Bourjois Kabuki Brush, C:ID Contour Set, Revlon Matte Eyeshadow in Sable, MAC Lipsticks in Faux and Up The Amp, Collection 2000 Liquid Liner, UDPP, Urban Decay Naked Palette

Okay, so it sounds like a lot when typed up but to me this was the very minimum that I'd take. The stand out products for me were:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser - This came with SPF 20 so there wasn't any need to apply SPF lotion to my face. It also has an amazing texture that just sinks into your skin - I wore this everyday - even when I went scuba diving!
Urban Decay Naked Palette - rather then lugging around lots of little eyeshadow pots I thought I'd be clever and take a palette. I used the darker colours to create a more smoky evening look.
Shu Uemura Gel Liner - If you're an eyeliner girl like me you'll love this. It stays put no matter what and is ideal for a hot, summer holiday!

Holiday Nails

Rather then lug around loads of nail polishes I went for two mini bottles instead. These tiny nail polishes are perfect for travelling with

Mavala 'Nice' and Orly 'Hottie'

Orly Hottie* was sent to me a while ago by the lovely Farrah from Makeup It Girl. At the time it was horribly cold and felt unnatural wearing such a neon, bright shade of pink... but for Sharm it was perfect. I had this on for the entire trip and it didn't chip at all. (I can't wait for the mini Orly range to launch in Boots now!)

Ugh - I hate showing my feet... but here they are in all their tanned glory. As you can see the bright orange looks amazing against a tan and is a lovely pedicure colour. I love how it clashes with the bright detailing on the flip flops too.

Other Beauty Travel Essentials

Suntan Lotion, Face Wipes, Body Mist, Day Cream, Eye Drops, Hand Sanitizer, Cotton Wool, Lotion, Deodorant

What are your holiday beauty essentials??

Sami x

Valentines Day Tutorial: Bedroom Eyes

2011-02-15T14:59:00.000-08:00

I've just realised how disgustingly late this post is... Eeek! Anyway, here it is with a pictorial to help you get the look... Call it a belated Valentines present :- )

You will need:

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Sin (taken from my lovely Naked palette)

MAC Paintpot in Groundwork

MAC Tan Pigment

Revlon Matte Eyeshadow in Sable

L'oreal Volume Million Lash Mascara

Shu Uemura Gel Liner

Brushes

Fluffy contouring brush

Smoky eye pencil brush

Flat eyeshadow brush

Thin eyeliner brush

Flat angled brush

Method

1) Shape brows and fill in any gaps with a dark eyeshadow (or a colour closest to the hair)

2) Create a smooth base by applying primer and the Paintpot

3) Dab the pigment over 2/3's of the eyelid. Use a damp brush to intensify the colour

4) Add another layer of pigment over the eyelid to create more intensity

5) With your pencil brush and a dark, matte brown eyeshadow , create an outer 'V' shape along the crease of the eyelid

6) Using your fluffy brush, blend the dark eyeshadow in so that there is no harsh line. Then apply a highlighter like Urban Decay's Sin eyeshadow over the browbone.

7) Apply eyeliner along the top and bottom eyelid. A thin brush will help you create the flicked out cat eye

8) Use the angled brush to apply a highlight (like Sin) on the inner corner of the eyes to help open them up.

9) Apply 2-3 coats of volumising mascara

The Result: big, flirty eyes!

Hope you found the tutorial helpful. As you can see it's so simple and anyone can do it.

Until next time - i'll leave you with these yummy virtual chocs (oooh how I spoil you)

Enjoy!

Sami xx

The Illamasqua Night Time Diva Makeup Course

2011-02-13T16:09:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I was fortunate enough to be invited to Illamasqua's Night Time Diva Course. It's aimed at women who want to learn the basics of dramatic makeup - something that Illamasqua is renowned for. The evening began with some champers and cupcakes (which I polished off... the cupcakes - not champers!) we then settled into our work stations and the makeup artist began his demo on a model. He talked through each stage clearly and in great detail, which made it easier to pick up.

The lovely makeup artist and his model

The end result: purple/pink smoky eyes with a dark lip... I wasn't too keen on it to be honest!

Once he was finished the real fun began - we were let loose on the shop floor to use any of the products we wanted to recreate the look, or using his tips, create our own look. I seriously felt like a child that had been let loose in a sweet shop... heaven!

I decided to go for a pink smoky eye as I'd seen it on someone the other day and was itching to recreate it. After we finished doing our makeup we were given a little certificate and an Illamasqua product of our choice to take away. I chose a lovely gold cream eyeshadow, which I'll post separately.

The Illamasqua Night Time Diva Course costs £50 and runs on Fridays from 7-9pm (just in time to get you ready for a night out!). Classes are held in their flagship store in London, Beak Street and are held in small groups of up to ten. I'd definitely recommend this to someone who wants to learn more about makeup and groups of friends that are looking to do something a little different on their night out. It was a lovely experience and I'd definitely come back with my girlfriends!

Would anyone consider taking a course like this? Do you think it's worth it?

Sami xx