Beauty Works, Deluxe Clip-In Hair Extensions Review!

If you're a fan of tumbling locks during the summer, but haven't been blessed by the hair gods, then chances are you've thought about or tried hair extensions. I've been testing out Beauty Works Deluxe Clip-in Extensions* in shade #60/#613 in the hope of getting the perfect summer ready hair.

These Beauty Works, Deluxe Clip-in Extensions* are 16" and retail for £104.99 and although the price is a little eye watering, the quality is amazing. Beauty Works matched my hair to shade #60/#613 and after forgoing the darker toner on my hair, I managed to get them to match perfectly. 

These extensions are made of 100% Remy human hair, and weigh 140g per pack. Each pack contains 3 wefts, which surprised me as when i've tried clip-ins previously, there has always been around 8-10 clips per pack.  You get:

2x 11inch wefts (4 clips)

1x 8inch nape weft (2 clips)

However, what really surprised me about these extensions is how thick and luscious they are. The hair is thick from clip to tip, and doesn't have the scraggly factor that some cheaper extensions do. If you're used to wearing lots of clip in extensions at once, you may find that these these have a different style of wear-ability - for me,they sit lower on my head blend with the bottom layers of my hair to look incredibly natural. However if I had more layers, or thicker hair, then I feel as though there may have been a struggle to get them to blend as you only get the 3x pieces.

Overall, I thought the quality of these hair extensions was outstanding, and they're probably some of the best i've ever tried for that reason, I just wish they came with one or two more wefts for better blending and positioning. 

Have you tried Beauty Works* Hair Extensions? I'd love to hear your thoughts, let me know in the comments! xxx

London Blogger Meet Up!

If like me, you find that these days you're spending more time online chatting to bloggers, who just *get* you, then this is a post for you. 

I'm aiming to arrange a London Blogger meet up for Beauty, Fashion and Lifestyle bloggers. I'm hoping to arrange something for early July, but for the time being, I'd like to see who is interested so I can add you to the mail out list when I have all the details.

If you'd like to come along all you have to do is fill out your details HERE! and when I have more information, I'll be in touch! 

Also, if you're a blogger who would like to help in organizing or in any way shape or form, do drop me an email at: Em@mypaleskin.com with the Subject - Blogger Meet up helper!

I'd love to meet some of you lovely bloggers at this event! xxx

A Backstage Pass to Graduate Fashion Week 2014 - Part #1

Last week I was lucky enough to be invited to Graduate Fashion Week by Bourjois who were the official make up Sponsors. I adore catwalk make up, It always manages to look so effortless and flawless, and when offered the chance to go backstage and see the artists prepping the models and designing the looks, like any Beauty Blogger I jumped at the chance. 

As well as being given that sought after backstage pass, I also managed to catch the 'University of East London' Catwalk Show. There were so many beautiful looks on the catwalk, here are two that caught my eye.

Leanne Bell

What I loved about this outfit from Leanne Bell, were the colours and how It spurred me into thinking how I could take inspiration from the outfit and transfer it to an everyday make up look. I'm envisioning Gold foiled eyes, with a hint of pink smoked out and a baby pink lip, I'd pair it with glowing skin and a bright highlight on the cheek.

Krasimira Ivanova-Stoyneva

This coat from Krasimira Ivanova-Stoyneva really stood out to me as a striking use of colour. To transfer this to a make up look, I'd go for a yellow and blue eye teamed with  a bold flick and a bright red lip.

I loved being able to go back stage and watch the make up artists at work. The head make up artist for the show was the amazingly talented Lan Nguyen-Grealis. Her station totally made my jaw drop when I saw all the products she had to play with! 

I arrived at just the right time as I managed to catch Lan demonstrating one of the key looks for a show to one of her team. I adored this gorgeous black smokey eye she created on the models.

The black smokey eye looked gorgeous on the pale skin of the models. I've always been a little fearful of heavy dark eyes with my pale skin but the use of the bronzer to contour and a beautiful highlight stops this look from washing out the skin. Instead of looking sickly, Lan has managed to create something that works perfectly and totally compliments the skin tone. I may just give it a shot and try to recreate it myself!

For the eyes, Lan used:

Bourjois Smokey Effect Eyeliner in Intense - Smokey eyes trio (Gris Party) - Bourjois Little Round Pot: Noir Fusain and Gris.

I absolutely loved my time at Graduate Fashion Week and I managed to pick up a few tips from watching Lan and the other artists work. To top it all off, I also managed to meet two lovely bloggers 

Lorna from Studs and Dreams and  Jade from Fairytalekiss

We had such a giggle at the show and I've a special step by step Get the Look post coming soon that the three of us as a little blogging journo team managed to capture together. So do check back for that soon.

Stay tuned for more exclusive posts from backstage at Graduate Fashion Week. xxx

Foundations for Pale Skin: Pale Test #2 - Rimmel Match Perfection 100 IVORY

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of foundations from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I'm an NC15 in Mac. However, Mac isn't really doing it for me foundation wise at the moment, so i'm on the hunt for a replacement that will be the perefect foundation for My Pale Skin. 

Product:  Rimmel Match Perfection is a product I often see popping up on various blogs.  Famed for its dewy and radiant effect it gives to skin, It was one I was very much looking forward to trying. I chose the  shade that was available in my local Boots 100 - Ivory.

Packaging:  The foundation comes in a a sturdy glass tube, It's fairly tall,  so if you have a small make up bag for your handbag it may not fit in there, just as a word of warning. The bottle has a pump applicator which is a good start, although the lid isn't the greatest, as it just pops on or off, so it's likely to come undone easily if it's loose in your bag. 

Coverage: It's a light to medium coverage foundation that is actually fairly runny when it pumps out of the tube. Be careful with that... I only wanted a small drop in my picture, instead I ended up with a lake.

Finish: I'd say the foundation leaves a dewy finish on my combo skin.

Colour:  Well, I don't know about you, but the only place i'd wear this foundation is to the bathroom... to wash it off. 
It's so unsuitable It hasn't actually made it onto my face. Why it's called Ivory I don't know... I'd class this more as a natural beige or a beige. 

Final Verdict:  I think it's safe to say that no further tests are needed on the Rimmel Match Perfection foundation. It has FAILED the pale test... miserably... without a shadow of a doubt.  At least it was only £6.99, it could have been a lot worse...

As Always, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this foundation or what you'd like me to try next, let me know in the comments. xxx

Get The Look: Simple, Striking, Summer Make Up!

When the sun is shining and the weather is hot the last thing I want to do is put on my make up and head into the sun only to feel it all melt away from my face. The products I used in this look all seem to have a miraculous staying power and can withstand a heat wave, as well as deal with the oh so very British summer rain. As soon as it gets sunny, most girls I know are straight onto the bottle tan and bronzer, but if like me you're keeping your pale skin this summer, then this is a look for you! 

I picked up this flower crown in my recent Primark Haul and I'd been dying to try out a few ideas with it. I also had a few e.l.f cosmetics orange lipsticks in my 'to wear' pile, so thought it would be most fitting to pair them both together. When wearing a statement lip I like to team it with a simple eye to make sure it doesn't overpower me, especially during the daytime. With a few tweaks this look can easily be switched to glam evening summer party style!

If you want to try this look at home, here's the full product list of everything I used:

Face

Revlon Colourstay Foundation 150 - Buff

Mac Studio Finish Concealer - NC15

Collection Lasting Finish Concealer - Fair (1)

Cheeks

Contour - NYX Taupe

Blush - Sleek Rose Gold

Eyes

 Naked Basics Palette

Collection 24hr Felt Liner

e.l.f Cosmetics Duo Mascara*

Eyebrows

Urban Decay Naked Basics - Naked 2 (used as brow powder)

Lips

e.l.f Cosmetics Moisturising Lipstick - Coral Cutie

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this look and if there's anything else you'd like to see me create, please do let me know in the comments xxx

Foundations for Pale Skin: Pale Test #1 - Revlon Colourstay 150 BUFF.

Welcome to the very first post in my new series - Foundations for Pale Skin. 

I get asked on an almost daily basis which foundations are the best for pale skin tones, and this series is going to explore all different types of foundations from varying brands and at all price levels which will hopefully help you to make a decision on which foundation is right for you! 

In universal skin tone terms.. I'm an NC15 in Mac. However, Mac isn't really doing it for me foundation wise at the moment, so i'm on the hunt for a replacement that will be the perefect foundation for My Pale Skin. 

Product:It seemed most fitting to start with a bloggers favourite, the Revlon Colourstay Foundation. Colourstay is often referred to as a dupe for Mac Studio Fix Fluid which i've worn for many years. The two lightest shades Revlon sell in the Colourstay range are Ivory -110 (which is Pink undertoned) and Buff - 150 (pictured) which is yellow/cool undertoned.  As i'm cool toned I picked  up the Buff 150 foundation for combo/oily skin. 

Packaging: First impressions of the product are great, it's in sturdy bottle and has a decent lid. However, what it is lacking badly is a pump. I tried to hack it by attempting to screw on a pump from Mac, however that was a no go as it didn't fit. You're then left with two options for getting the foundation out, pour it and risk the wrath of the foundation gods by having waaaay too much product come out onto the back of your hand... or transfer it to another pumpy bottle. I went with the tipping onto the back of the hand option (in case you were wondering) as I like to live a little dangerously. 

Coverage: It's a medium coverage and quite a good one at that! A little goes a long way and you can certainly build up some layers with it where you need it which is always a good thing. I've noticed that i don't feel cakey wearing it and it doesn't make me oily at the end of the day.

Finish: I find this foundation quite matte on my skin compared to the studio fix fluid which has a more dewy finish for me.

Colour:  Revlon Colourstay in Buff - 150 was the closest match from the two palest foundations for my pale skin, but sadly it's just a little bit too yellow. I can make it work by teaming it with my NC15 concealer, but it's not quite perfect and requires more blending to make it work.

Final Verdict: Although the Revlon Colourstay foundation came very close to failing due to the overly yellow undertone... it has just scraped by to PASS the test. By spending more time blending, I can make it work for every day use however, I wouldn't recommend it for a quick fix.

Thanks for reading the first installment in this series and I'd love to hear your thoughts on this foundation in the comments xxx

Primark Jewellery Haul!

I've recently fallen in love with statement jewellery. I've never really owned any statement pieces as for some reason I always thought I couldn't wear them because I had a bigger bust. I was gifted a beautiful statement necklace from Oliver Bonas last month after leaving my job and that has ignited my new found passion for bold pieces. I recently headed to Primark for a browse and here's what I ended up coming home with!

I absolutely fell in love with this piece as soon as I saw it. It was one of those moments where you can't help but think if you've walked into the right shop. I could not believe the quality and how beautiful it was for only £6.00 and in Primark!

 There are so many outfits and make up looks i'm dying to pair this with. It's perfect for a cute girly look or to add some colour and glam to a jeans and T-shirt day.

As well as loving statement pieces, i've also been loving gold jewellery as of late. Sometimes I want to wear a statement piece that isn't a girly flower necklace. 

When I saw this necklace my first thoughts were that my boyfriend will hate it, and unfortunately for him... I have to have it! 

I don't know what drew me to it, but i imagined it going perfectly with a white topshop jumper i'd recently bought on ebay. At £5.00 this was a welcome addition to my jewellery collection.

I'd pair this necklace with a bold black wing, ponytail and a leather jacket for an edgy glam look.

And for those days in between girly and edgy, here's the best of both worlds. I loved how simple this was, but that it can add a finishing touch to any outfit. I have a feeling that this may turn into a simple everyday necklace for me. I like the clean lines and that it's what i'd call, an understated statement necklace.

At £3.00 it's a great little everyday necklace and i'm sure it's going to be popping up in blog photos in the future.

A jewellery haul isn't complete without some midi rings and I picked these up for the bargain price of £1.50!

 I have tiny fingers and i'm pretty sure only the adjustable ring will fit me, but even at £1.50 for the one ring it's a bargain!

Last, but not least I finally bought a flower crown! I'd been after one of these for what seems like forever as there were a few editorial looks I'd wanted to try out, but needed a crown to pair it with. 

At only £4.00 it was an absolute bargain. However, this one didn't pass the boyfriend test as he wasn't too keen on it, but i'm sure I can change his mind if I style it a little more professionally than slapping it on my head and saying "Look how pretty it is!" 

 Keep your eyes peeled for a look featuring this on the blog very soon! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts on these and If you've picked up some jewellery at Primark recently, let me know in the comments! xxx