FOTD 1930's Hen Do

Firstly I want to apologise for my lack of posts over the past week.  I can't quite believe how hectic things have been! Last weekend I had to fly out to Portugal for a few days for work and I was so busy getting everything together I unfortunately didn't have a chance to write up any blog posts before I went like I had planned.  When I got back I then went to my friends gig and had a couple of days away in Torquay with my boyfriend before returning for one of my best friends hen do so this has been the first opportunity where I have been able to sit down, relax and blog!

I went to the hen do last night which had a 1930's theme.  We were asked to wear any accessory from this time rather than going for the full look with outfits so after much research I opted for pearls.  I'm not the most confident of people when it comes to fancy dress so this subtle, pretty accessory was perfect for me.  I also decided to put more effort into my look by doing 1930's makeup too. Again, I did a lot of research and found that a popular look was the classic neutral eyes with black eyeliner and mascara as well as bright red lip.  This was my final look:

 

 

What I used:

• Primer:  Photo Finish by Smash Box as my foundation base and Urban Decay Primer Potion on my eye lids.
• Foundation: My all time favourite foundation  Vitalumiere Aqua by Chanel.
• Concealer: Benefit Erase Paste
• Powder: MAC Mineralise Skin Finish in Natural (Shade Medium Plus)
• Bronzer: Nars Laguna
• Blusher: MAC Tenderling
• Highlighter: I didn't wear any highlighter as I thought it would be a bit much with the bright red lips.
• Eyeshadow: Naked from the Naked 1 palette all over my lid, Mac Copperplate in my outer corner and crease and Shroom in my inner corner/tear duct.
• Eyeliner: Upper L'Oreal Liquid Super Liner, Lower L'Oreal Color Riche Le Smoky pencil in Black Yelour
• Mascara: YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils
• Lip Balm: Dior Lip Glow
• Lip Liner: Dior Natural Beige
• Lipstick: Russian Red by MAC
• Setting Spray: Urban Decay All Nighter

We went to a 'secret' bar in London called the Evans and Peel Detective Agency which fitted the 1930's theme perfectly.  It is not somewhere I have ever heard of before and it is in a very discrete location. The idea was that it doesn't look like a bar because in the 1930's it was more of an underground type place so people pretended to go there to get the help of the detectives when in reality they actually just wanted a night out!  It was very different from any kind of bar I have experienced before but no where would have fitted the theme quite so well and we all had a lovely time.

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Beauty, Skincare and Haircare Tips #1

Today's post contains 10 beauty, skincare and hair care tips.  This is going to be a series with an accumulation of 10 tips per post until I reach the ultimate tips post in August which will hopefully contain input from all you lovely beauty bloggers/readers too.  To be involved please scroll down to the bottom of the post for more details.

TOP TIPS

1. Makeup remover wipes - This is a very popular way to remove your makeup but it doesn't remove all of it well.  Therefore, it is best to always use a cleanser or balm in addition or instead of (I use it in addition) and toner too.  This way you can make sure you skin is completely clean and make up free.  This will help prevent spots and blemishes.
2. Self tanning - When applying self tan you should always exfoliate and moisturise 24 hours before and immediately before you apply your self tan add moisturiser to your problem areas, such as knees, ankles and elbows.
3. Applying Mascara - When applying mascara never pump the brush because it pushes air into the tube which will dry out the product.  Instead, twist the brush around to mix up the product.
4. Soft, Shiny, Healthy Hair - To make your hair look smoother, healthier, softer, shinier and grow quicker, regularly use a hair oil.  I noticed the difference from the first application and haven't looked back.  My favourite is Moroccan Oil.
5. Cleaning Brushes - Regularly clean all of your makeup brushes as product build up can cause spots and blemishes. You makeup will also apply better when using a clean brush.
6. Cleaning Brushes - Brush cleaner can be expensive and a really great alternative is to use baby shampoo.  It is cheap and smells nice but it does take longer for your brushes to dry.
7. Skincare - It is always tempting to change your skin routine and add in different products but your skin is sensitive and it can take up to a month to adjust to a new product.  Therefore, you need to be patient to see if things work and introduce things slowly, one at a time to help prevent break outs.
8. Eye Cream - In order to reduce puffy eyes keep your eye cream in the fridge before application.  Also, always make sure you gently tap your eye cream when applying it rather than dragging it as you don't want to pull the fragile skin under your eyes.
9. Blend, Blend, Blend - The key to good makeup application is to blend, whether it be your foundation, eye makeup or blusher.  You want everything to look natural and this is the perfect way to achieve this.
10. Less is more - Always remember that it is easy to add more product but much harder to take it away.   It's easy to go overboard but check your makeup in different lights if you can and build it up slowly so you don't end up with heavier makeup than you intended.  A key thing to be wary of is the different pigmentation of products such as blushers.. sometimes you can get a nasty surprise if you forget!

Here's where I need YOU.. the ULTIMATE beauty/skincare/haircare tips

I want to go one step further with this beauty tips series and do a supplementary post to this one containing as many tips as possible.  In order to do this I would like the co-operation of my fellow beauty bloggers and readers to get as many tips as possible and spread the word.  I love hearing people's ideas and I think it will be really nice to work together.

I will choose the beauty tips I find are most helpful (the number depends on how many entries I get but there will be a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 50) and share them in the blog post along with your name and blog as credit to you. The tips can be for haircare, skincare, beauty or nails.

In order to be included in this post can you please email me your tips (as many as you like) to kimberleyjohnson03@gmail.com with your name and blog address. Entries close on the 1st August and can you please include 'Beauty tips' in the subject and it make clear in your email which section your tip is for e.g hair care.

What do you think of these tips? Are you going to join in with the ultimate beauty tips blog post?

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Miniature Products for Travelling

I'm going away to Portugal for a few days on Sunday with work and I'm only to take hand luggage.. PANIC!! After contemplating how I'm going to fit everything into one tiny bag.. straighteners.. shoes.. hair dryer.. clothes? I moved on to think about my toiletries.  The airline is only allowing liquids of 100ml each so the hunt was one to find my favourite products that matched this criteria.  I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was and how many products are on offer, I'm sure there wasn't as much choice a few years ago but then again I've never actually had a need to buy miniatures before so maybe I just didn't notice.

Here's what I picked up:

• Palm Olive Shower Gel - I love this shower gel because it's very creamy and smells delicious! I was so happy to find it as a miniature form
• Aussie Moisture Moist shampoo and conditioner - My favourite shampoo and conditioner are available in mini's but sadly they weren't included in the deal so I decided to go for Aussie which is another brand I love.
• Palmers Cocoa Butter Moisturiser - After being in the sun you need to make sure you moisturise and re-hydrate your skin.  This moisturiser is my favourite to use after tanning and it supposedly helps to keep your tan longer too!
• Batiste Dry Shampoo - I love Batiste and although I can't take this on the plane because it's an aerosol I needed one more product to complete my set so this was a must.  I find this size useful when travelling or to keep at work so I know I will definitely use it. I got my favourite scent, Tropical too!
• Tres Semme Heat Protector Spray - I haven't actually tried this heat protector spray before because I love the VO5 one but unfortunately they didn't have a small version *cries*.  This was the only one available so fingers crossed it's a good one!
• Simple Eye Remover - I haven't used this eye remover before and it was the only one available.  I figured something is better than nothing and Simple is a good brand so fingers crossed it works well.
• Ambre Solare Sun Lotion/Sun Screen - I got this miniature factor 30 sunscreen which I am hoping is big enough to last me the three days.  This wasn't included in the deal and was pretty expensive priced at nearly £6 although it was on a half price offer.  I still think that pricey for such a small amount of product but there wasn't a big selection to choose form.
• Colgate toothpaste - This one is probably the least exciting but none the less an essential product! I wasn't really bothered what toothpaste I got for a couple of days to be honest so this was more a case of grabbing the first one I found.

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MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural Powder Review // MSFN

  

I hope you're all well.  Today's post is another MAC product I love.. the MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural Powder aka MSFN.

Before branching out to MSFN I used the L'Oreal True Match powder for years (read the review here) and I was always happy with the results.  However, after using the same product for so long I was desperate to try something new... I stumbled upon MSFN.

The packaging of the MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural is your typical simple, sturdy black compact which contains a dome of product.  It isn't anything special but it fits the MAC brand perfectly and you don't really need fancy packaging for a powder.  A nice touch would be if this compact included a mirror, though.  I didn't realise quite how much I relied on it until I switched and although it doesn't take much effort to carry a separate mirror it is nice to have it in once place so it's one less item to squeeze into my overflowing makeup bag!

The powder itself is available in ten shades so there should be something suitable for every skin tone.  The shades are:

• Light
• Light Plus
• Medium
• Medium Plus
• Medium Dark
• Medium Deep
• Dark
• Dark Deep
• Give Me Sun
• Sun Power

MSFN is my go to powder and I use it every day to set my foundation in place.  I only use it on the centre of my face as this is where I get most oily and I don't feel I need to apply it any where else.  I also use it to touch up throughout the day or on the occasions where I don't wear foundation I may put a little dusting of this powder all over my face, although the latter does provide very minimal coverage.  I love the look this powder gives.  It doesn't cling to my skin or look powdery and dry but quickly absorbs any oil and helps my make up to stay on a little longer.  The finish is very natural and in the past friends have been surprised when I have told them I wear a powder as they can't tell I have any on.

I love the MSFN powder and it is something that will remain in my makeup bag for a long time to come!  For anyone who is interested I use shade Medium Plus, however, I now have a bit of a tan so I need to get a slightly darker shade.  MAC Mineralise Skin Finish Natural Powder is available from MAC Cosmetics for £22 which is expensive in comparison to drug store powders but it lasts so long I think it's worth it.

What do you think of MSFN? What is your favourite powder?

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Advertising with Kimberley's Beauty Blog

Hello Lovelies!

I have been getting quite a few emails recently about advertising opportunities through my blog so as of 23rd June 2013, I will be offering my readers the chance to advertise on Kimberley's Beauty Blog.

Advertising/Sponsors

All advertising packages will run from the first to last day of every month and payments will be made through Paypal. If you would like this to roll on over several months then let me know and I can secure your place (there will be a limited number of each package). Also, if you feel one of the set packages does not fit you needs pop me an e-mail and I can make one customisable for you.

My stats are available upon request and I offer advertising to both bloggers and businesses.

The Packages:

Pink Champagne

This is the only exclusive package I offer and is only available to only ONE person each month.

A 240x220 ad in the sidebar for one month.

You will be the first ad in the sidebar.. the number 1 spot!

Your blog link will be included in the bottom of every post for your advertising month

You will get an individual #FF on Twitter every Friday including your blog link for one month

You will be at the top of my monthly advertisers blog post including links to all social media and a picture of your blog heading for one month

At the beginning of your advertising month I will take a snapshot of your blog at put it on my instagram as a shout out 

Price: £7.99 GBP

1 available each month

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Pink Pearl

There are only five of these packages available each month

A 240x150 ad in the sidebar for one month.

A #FF every Friday on Twitter during your advertising month

A mention at the bottom of every blog post during your advertising month

You will be included in my monthly advertisers blog post including links to all social media and a pic of your blog heading for one month

Price:  £5.99 GBP

5 available each month
 

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Pink Souffle

There are only five of these packages available each month

A 240x120 ad in the sidebar for one month.

A #FF on Twitter every Friday during your advertising month

Price: £3.99 GBP

5 available each month

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Pink Dream

  

There are only three of these packages available each month

A 240x90 ad in the sidebar for one month.

One #FF mention on Twitter during your advertising month

Price: £2.00 GBP

3 available each month
 

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Pink Swirl

This is a fully customisable package.  Email me what you want and we can discuss prices.

 

 

 

Once the payment has been made you can send me the ad you want displayed and the link to your blog.

If you choose the 'Exclusive' Pink Champagne package or the Pink Souffle package you will need to send me your paragraph to be featured in my monthly advertisers post before the last week in your advertising month and any links to social media sites you want me to include. I will post my advertisers post in the last week of the month, however days can vary.

If you have your own blog or shop and want to secure a space, or have any questions please email me at kimberleyjohnson03@gmail.com.  Remember customisable options are also available!

I retain the right to decline advertising offers that I don't feel are fitting with the content of my blog

 

 

 

The above information can all be found in the 'PR/Advertising' section on my blog (see links under my heading).

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My Favourite Candle Holders

For me there is nothing better than coming in from a tough day at work and having a relaxing evening in front of the tv with some candles burning.  I find the gentle flicker of the flame relaxing as well as the beautiful scent that fills the room.  Alternatively, they make a bath feel much more relaxing and luxurious too.

I am forever on the look out for new candles and candle holders and I wanted to share some of my collection with you.  I've already done review posts on my candles or have some lined up so this post will focus more on the holders that I have.  Here goes...

Tea Light Holders

These cute little tea lights are so simple but they look great on a table or dresser.  I love that they show off the candles and are glass so look more delicate.  I picked them up in Ikea for super cheap and they came in a large pack so they are great to scatter around the house or in a group on a table.

Bird Cage Holder

My parents bought me this gorgeous rustic looking bird cage candle holder as a gift a few months ago and I regularly use it.  It holds three tea lights and they look so pretty burning in this unusual ornate holder!  The delicate rose and leaf detail are gorgeous and my friends always comment on this when they come round! This holder is from Laura Ashley.

Mosaic Dish

This pretty mosaic dish was another gift from my parents and is from Yankee Candle.  It is the perfect size to either hold three tea lights or one large candle as I have in the below picture.  The mosaic pattern is gorgeous and looks multi-coloured as the light bounces off it.  This holder currently has pride of place on my dressing table.

Mirrored Holder

I bought this mirrored candle holder in a 20% Marks and Spencer sale a few months ago and it is unlike any others I have seen before.  It holds three tea lights which can been viewed  through the glass sides and a mirrored surround.  This holder looks great on the coffee table in the evenings.

What candle holder is your favourite?

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The London BBloggers Party

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to attend the #LDNBBLOGGERSPARTY which was hosted by the lovely Scarlett of Scarlet London and I thought you may be interested in hearing a little about it.

The day started by meeting up with a few lovely bloggers for lunch at The Diner in Carnaby Street before the event.  This gave us a really good opportunity to get to know each other a little better before heading to Dirty Martini for a day full of cocktails and beauty!

We arrived around 1:30 ish and the room was already jammed full of bloggers.  I think there were around 100 people invited in total and the turn out was amazing.  We headed straight to the bar to get a refreshment as we had spent a while battling our way through all the crowds gathering down Oxford Street for Gay Pride.  I chose a gorgeous pink/red cocktail named Cherry Blossom which was nice but pretty strong!

The event had a lovely informal atmosphere and everyone mingled and chatted about our blogs, fashion, beauty and just general chit chat.  It was really nice to get to meet new bloggers.   A presentation was also running in the background with screenshots of everyone's blogs which was a really nice touch and made the event feel really personal.

There were four brands at the event who were all very friendly and more than happy to speak with us all.  A company named Cloud Nine had a styling station set up displaying the variety of curling and straightening tools they offer and we were able to sit down and give them a try.  They also offered one lucky blogger the chance to win one of the styler's! I especially liked the look of the rollers.. their concept is very innovative and I may well have to purchase some in the near future! There was also a beauty brand name Oriflame who had a table displaying an assortment of products.  We were able to try as many as we liked (every beauty bloggers dream!) and even order a few samples to trial.  The blushers were the first thing that caught my eye and when swatched the did not disappoint! Quiz Clothing were also at the event and although they didn't have any of their products on display they did give us a booklet so we were able to have a peak at them and I'm sure it won't be long before I'm on their website ordering something!  Lastly Search Laboratory had a stand and gave us a 'SEO Tips for Bloggers' booklet which i'm sure will be extremely helpful!

Following the event a small group of us headed to the new Mac Pro store that happened to open that day in Covent Garden and...... I've finally got my hands on a Show Orchid lipstick! Hurrrrrahhh!!

I had an amazing day at the event and want to say a big thank you to Scarlett for arranging it, all the brands who attended and the brands who contributed to the generous goodie bag we were given.

Did you attend the event? If so, what did you think?

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Cute Shamballa Style Accessories Review

I hope you're all well :) I've had another busy week but the weather has been a bit better here in the UK so it's been nice to enjoy some sunshine.. it finally feels like Summer!

Today's post is on some really cute handmade accessories I wanted to share with you.  I love wearing pieces which are a bit different and from small boutiques or businesses as I know it is something that lots of other people won't have.  It's the worst thing in the world when you walk into a room and someone is wearing the exact same outfit as you and for me that can be the case for accessories too. 

I love the Shamballa style bracelets and I already own a few but Sparkle by Tobie offer a really unusual twist on this trend.  Instead of the beads being lined up in a row, the centre piece of this bracelet is a gorgeous flower arrangement.  The colours are also great as they match the current Monochrome trend and will also go with a whole range of outfits. The quality of this bracelet is very high and it is fully adjustable so it would fit children as well as adults.  This is great because you can adjust the strap so your bracelet hangs how you want it to and it is comfortable to wear. Priced at only £6.00, this bracelet is very good value for money. The packaging that all three items came in is absolutely gorgeous too!

Next is a keyring (£2.00) and bag charm (£3.00) which again which are in the Shamballa style.  I've never seen anything similar to this before and I love them.  They are simple and sleek and are a really cute add on to any bag or set of keys.

These accessories are the perfect treat for you or a gift for a friend as they are fully customisable and high quality.  I can't believe what such good value for money they are!  If you fancy an alternative to the above items, other style bracelets and key rings are available as well as anklets, bag charms and phone charms on the Sparkle by Tobie website.  I have my eye on the Pink Shamballa and Peal Bracelet 2... it's gorgeous!

You can also view more information on the Sparkle by Toby Facebook page or twitter (@sparklebytobie).

*These products were sent to me to review

What do you think of these accessories?

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Alpha H Liquid Gold Review

 

 

 

Today's review is on a cult skin care product that is very well known in the beauty world and is often surrounded by a lot of hype... Liquid Gold.

Liquid Gold claims to start the skin's metabolism, tighten enlarged pores, give a brighter clearer complexion and diminish wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage.  Like most people this claim was too tempting to resist so around 7 months ago I decided to take the plunge and give it a try.

Liquid Gold is a concentrated transparent glycolic solution that you apply to your face once every other night with a cotton pad after cleansing and toning your skin as usual.  You can either stop at this point if you want a more intense treatment (this is what I do), or apply your moisturiser as usual.  I find the latter isn't necessary as Liquid Gold doesn't dry out my skin and the next day looks fine without using any moisturiser.  As mentioned in previous posts, my skin type is combination.

After application some people may find a slight stinging sensation which is normal but if it is very intense or long lasting then you should stop using the product.  I must admit that when I read this before buying Liquid Gold I was a little put off.  I've got pretty sensitive skin so I was afraid it was going to be too much for it and break me out.  However, after speaking to a couple of friends who use this overnight face mask and reading several reviews I decided to give it a go.  It turns out I don't feel this sensation at all when using this product so I'm glad I did!

When I use Liquid Gold my skin glows the following morning and looks clean, refreshed, brighter and clearer. My skin is soft and smooth and I'm totally in love with this product!  The amazing results are due to the glycolic acid element in the formulation which works as a chemical exfoliant to remove dead skin.  It is important, therefore, to make sure you use sunscreen the following day as your skin is more susceptible to sun damage.

The packaging of this Alpha H product also really appeals to me.  The sleek, no fuss gold bottle makes the product feel luxurious and looks good on the side in the bathroom.  However, I have accidently spilt this product at least twice due to not clipping the cap down properly.  It didn't stain, but it isn't ideal as I hate wasting products.  Lastly, I should comment on the smell of Liquid Gold.  Unlike other beauty products in my skin care routine this element doesn't have a perfumed/floral scent.  Instead, it very much smells of chemicals and you do ask yourself 'Should I really be putting this on my face?' The answer for me is yes... I love this product and since using Liquid Gold I haven't looked back.  In fact I regret not buying it sooner and I'm sure it will play a part in my skin care routine for years to come!

You can buy Liquid Gold from Cult Beauty for £31.50

 

What do you think of liquid gold? Would you buy it?

 

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How to Save Money at College/Uni // Giveaway

If you have read my blog over the past few months you will know that I'm in the middle of revising for exams at the moment (fun, fun).  I thought I'd seen the last of them when I finished university but it turns out I'm doing more due to my job and this time round it is much harder as I'm juggling revising and working full time. Today's post is a little different to my usual beauty or fashion.. this time it's lifestyle and related to studying.

I remember spending a fortune on books every year at university but in the UK there seemed to be no alternative.  In the USA, however, there is!  Campus Books offer students the opportunity to rent textbooks which can save you a lot of money as they are very expensive to buy and most people never look at them after graduation.  I must admit I did keep the majority of mine but that was because my job relates very closely to my degree (Business Administration with Computing) so it made sense to keep them as I have referred back to them, plus as I said, I didn't have much choice than to buy them!  Many of my friends, however, have had their books sitting on a bookshelf and getting dusty since final exams (over two years ago) so for them it hasn't been quite the same investment.

Renting textbooks can save you a lot of money and it sounds pretty easy to do as you place your order online. Other advantages include:

• Save 40-90% off of bookstore prices
• Free shipping both ways
• Can highlight in the textbooks
• Flexible renting periods
• A donation is made to Operation Smile with each textbook rented

Operation Smile is an international charity to help children who are born with a cleft lip.  These children often find it difficult to eat, drink and smile are can be bullied because of the way they look.  Operation Smile is a volunteer based medical charity that helps thousands of children in over 60 countries by offering free surgery.

 

An alternative for those who have already bought there textbooks is to rent them out to other students.  This is a new initiative introduced by Campus Books and means that you can regain some of the money you spend on your purchases. To find out more about this look at the Rent Book website.

Over 1 million customers rent textbooks from Campus Books at over 5,500 college campuses across the nation (US only) and you could join them by visiting the Campus Books website here.

I have teamed up with Campus Books to offer one of my readers a $25.00 discount on textbook rental.  To enter please use the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Info:

- The giveaway will run for two weeks (ending on 16th July) and is only open to people in the US (sorry!)
- The winner will be emailed my myself and given a discount code that will be provided by Campus Books
- The winner will have 3 days to claim their prize.  If I do not hear from them within this time frame a new winner will be picked.
- If you are under 16 please ask parental permission before entering


Do you think you would rent a textbook or let other students rent yours?


*This is a sponsored blog post written by me.  Giveaway prize is provided by Campus Books

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