The Best Bargain Eyeliner.

If there's one thing I've learnt over the past year of blogging, it's that you don't always have to spend a fortune on a product to find one that works perfectly for you. The Collection Extreme 24hr Felt Liner £2.99  is a product that I find hard to live without, and if i'm wearing eyeliner, it's the first product I reach for.  

What I love about the eyeliner is that the tip isn't too firm, and works with you. I've noticed with numerous eyeliners that I can struggle to get a perfect winged eye if I'm constantly fighting against the product. If the tip is too hard, then it can drag across the eye, and if it's too soft your stroke can wobble meaning you'll have an almost messy line. The collection Extreme Felt Liner works well because although the tip has some structure - it offers movement too! 

The eyeliner applies west, and dries super fast- without bleeding and lasts all day - which is perfect if you don't have time or just don't want to use a primer. However, like most products there are some negatives too. I really wish Collection would plastic wrap their eyeliners as when you buy them in the shop, you have no idea how many people have swatched the product or opened it before you take it home. I also find that within around a month or two. the tip has started to dry out. to get it working again, I find pressing it onto the edge of the lid works - but this isn't a great fix. 

I love this eyeliner, and although I find myself constantly swooning over the Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, I don't have a trip to the states planned any time soon, so Collection - you'll be staying in my make up bag for good.

I'd love to hear about your favourite eyeliner! Let me know what products you can't live without in the comments.

Em xxx

Why I want 2015 to be less serious and more fun filled.

Hi, I'm Em, and I've become a bore.

Phew.

There, I've said it.

In my old age.. (twenties) I seem to have forgotten how to have fun, and that, quite frankly makes me sad. There are a few factors that have caused me to forget how to have fun and some of those have occurred over the past few years. Alongside those however,  are a few more serious things that have happened in my life to change me completely as a person - but now isn't the time for stories.

I have a process driven creative job, which means that although I get to think up and make fun films for a living - it also means that I always have a team of people relying on me, and I am always wary of deadlines, schedules, budgets, and responsibilities. I've even turned into one of those horrendous people that, gulp, worries about health and safety. I'm not even joking when I say that I actually told my partner he had to gaffer tape a temporary piece of carpet down in a half finished conservatory over Christmas because of health and safety.

I feel like I spend so much of my time being serious that sometimes I have to stop and really think about when the last time I laughed, like *really* laughed was - and often I can't remember. Which truly makes me sad.

With that in mind, I want to make 2015 the year in which I really focus on not only moving forward with my goals, ambitions and personal growth. But the year in which I truly find my confidence.

I grew so much in 2014. This time last year, I hadn't even started  this blog and that feels just so surreal to me. I can't remember what I used to fill my time with before it!

2015 is  the year in which I - a self confessed 'I'd rather stay at home and look at cat pictures on the internet' person, want to get out more, meet new people and and learn to have fun. With that in mind, I've worked out a way to do just that and take you along with me. I'm starting a brand new lifestyle series all about getting out, and having fun - meeting new people and of featuring one of my true loves in life - food.

Every month from here on in, I'll be writing a 'Dinner With.....' Post. Where i'll be heading out to dinner with a friend, new or old - and getting to know them a little better. I'll have a set of questions I'm hoping to put to each dinner guest and of course I'll be taking pictures to share with you. If I'm lucky, who knows - I may even be able to persuade a few blogging super stars to have dinner with me! If you don't ask, you don't get... right?

Em xxx

Drugstore Haulin!

Sometimes I feel like I can go weeks without spending money on make up and then it all gets a little bit much and I just want to buy all the things. That seemed to happen again between Christmas and New years, what with my Kiko Haul, and Real Techniques haul brushes haul.
It would appear that New Years Eve was also the day to buy liquid eyeliner and nude lip supplies as I came away from boots, with not one, but three different varieties of eyeliners in 2 different brands as well as two nude lip products from different brands.

From Collection I picked up the Extreme 24hr Felt Tip Liner £2.99 as well as the Fast Stroke Liner £2.99. I love the Felt Tip Liner and it's my weapon of choice for when doing any sort of flicked eyeliner. I also haven't played around with a 'dip' style liquid eyeliner in a while I thought It would be fun to do some experimenting and seeing what I can come up with.

From Maybelline I chose the Tantalizing Taupe Lipstick £6.99 from the Maybelline Coloursens Nude Lipstick Range and also I really liked the look of the Master Precise liquid Eyeliner £5.99 which is actually a felt tip liner) and it didn't bleed when swatched in store - meaning it made it's way straight into the basket.

Finally from No 7 I chose the Precision Lips Pencil in Nude £6.75 as I just loved how the two products swatched together on my hand - plus, you can never have too many lip liners - especially of the drug store variety - we all know how hard they are to come by.

So that's my nude lip and eyeliner mini haul! I'd love to hear your thoughts on my buys. Have you tried any of them before? Let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

Subtle Everyday Sparkle Eyes

Even though Christmas and New Years Eve is well and truly over, I just can't stop reaching for the shimmer and sparkles to make eyeshadow stand out that little bit more. I always find myself reaching for taupes and muted colours for an everyday wear that is pulled together and professional for work, but also gives me a that little bit of something something that represents the beauty blogger inside me trying to get out. 

I started this look as a normal every day soft taupe eye and finished it by pressing over the centre glitter from my Bourjois Rock This Khaki* Eyeshadow from the Smokey Stories Collection. 

 I love how the green hued glitter and the smokey taupes blend together to start my day off with a little bit of a shimmy. 

Here's the full list of what I'm wearing:

Foundation: Nars Sheer Glow - Siberia

Concealer: Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer - Chantilly

Contour: NYX Blusher - Taupe

Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills DipBrow Pomade - Medium Brown

Eyeshadow: (Base) Make Up Revolution Salvation - What You Waiting for? Palette

Eyeshadow: (Lid) Bourjois Smokey Stories - Rock This Khaki Glitter*

Eyeliner: Collection  Extreme 24Hr Felt Liner -Black

Eyelashes: Total Minks - Smouldering Minks Lashes*

Lipstick: Make Up Revolution - Dazzle Lipstick

Lipgloss: Sleek - Gloss Me Cranberry Crush

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this look, let me know in the comments.

Em xxx

The Must Have Winter Nail Polish

I enjoy wearing nail varnish just as much as the next girl, but I can't say I've even fallen in love with a Nail Polish shade - until now. Only Fingers And Toes are a London based luxury Nail Polish brand and I have fallen head over heals in love with their Krypton Nail Polish*

At £16.00, It's pricey if you're used to purchasing drug store polishes but in terms of quality, it's far from it's lower cost comparison. Krypton* is a beautiful taupey nude shade that I finsh compliments my pale skin perfectly. It's one of those great hybrid polishes that can make you appear professional and groomed at the office - but if you add a few midi rings and some statement bracelets and you're bang on trend for AW14.

It applies like a dream, and has a wonderful staying power, paired with the Ciate Speed Coat Top Coat* I found the polish lasted a week before it began to chip, and on my peeling nails - that's almost unheard of. 

A great product that has well and truly become my winter staple. I'd love to hear what shades you're wearing this Winter! Let me know in the comments. 

Em xxx

The Bloggers Guide to Camera Lenses - Introduction

One aspect of blogging I get asked about the most, by email or twitter is Photography. I love taking blog photos, it's something I enjoy the most about blogging. Although at times it can be frustrating, and take forever to arrange items in a composition you're happy with - but when you get it 'right' and can look back at a photo with pride and admiration it's one of the most rewarding feelings. 

Now, let me just tell you that do not by any means need a DSLR to be a blogger, in fact, I took the photograph of the lenses using my iPhone for example... but this series will focus on DSLR photography and lenses. 

One thing many people ask me the most is what camera I use to take photos, and what lights I use - yet the question I often get asked the least, and in my opinion the most important aspect of a photography kit is actually the lens. Over the past year one thing that I've found help me with my photography frustration is realizing how important it is to have 'the right tool, for the right job' - for instance, you wouldn't try to put a square peg in a round hole, so don't try and force a lens to work for you in a way it was never meant to.  I spent so long struggling to get my images to look how I wanted them to, and it was only after I tried a different lens did my eyes become opened to the world of photography and I could truly appreciate it that little bit more. 

I do however want to make it very clear that you do not need to spend hundreds or even thousands of pounds on camera equipment to become a successful blogger or photographer, and If I wasn't in a fortunate position due to my job and some amazing Christmas gifts I would not have the camera kit I have today.

Disclaimer

This post or series is in no way meant to be a brag about my camera kit, or how much any of it costs. I just want to say that I am in no means a photography expert, or tutor, and I'm sure that there are many more qualified people in the blogging world who could write these posts, I wanted to give back and share what I've learnt over the past year. Only half of these lenses belong to me, some of them belong to my work and as a perk of my job I'm able to use them outside of work for my own use

.  

Camera

 I have a Canon 600D which I received for Christmas in 2013 and it's the camera I use for all my blogging and YouTube and videos.

When I received my camera, I had no idea how to use it, and found trying to work out how to take photographs on manual the most frustrating thing - partly due to being impatient and expecting photographs to be 'right' straight away, without putting in the hard work. 

Lenses

So here's the deal. Each week I'm going to talk you through 6 different lenses that can be used for blogging and i'll be showing you the difference in images you'll get with each lens and answering any questions you may have about them. I'll also be giving you my pro's and con's for each lens - specifically for blogging.

The Lenses we'll be talking about are as follows:

Canon 40mm f/2.8 Lens - £121.25 (amazon)

Canon 50mm f/1.4 Lens - £249.95 (amazon)

Canon 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 Lens - £108.42 (amazon)

Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 Lens - £326.49 (amazon)

Tamrom 24-70mm f/2.8 Lens - £749.00 (amazon)

Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 IS Lens - £1,018.99 (amazon)

Over To You

I want to get as much information into this series as possible, and I think my twitter had a mini melt down when I mentioned I was going to be starting this series with people already thanking me before I even published this first post.

So here's where you come in, I want to make this as helpful as possible, so if there are any lens specific questions or there's anything in particular you'd like to know or want me to include in each post, please do let me know in the comments. There are no stupid questions here, and I'm happy to help in anyway I can.

Em xxx

Kiko Eyeshadow Haul!

One of the first things I did after getting home to London following a long Christmas in South Wales, was to head straight to the stores and satisfy any new make up cravings I had. Over the past few months I've discovered a new found love for bright shimmering eye shadows, as I find they compliment my pale skin. When looking to invest in a few new colours, there was only one store I could think of that had a whole heap of shades in bright colours, that were high in quality and reasonably priced and that was Kiko. 

I love the huge range that's available in Kiko Stores, but more importantly -I love the price tag. Everything is just so affordable, and you don't feel bad if you decide to pick up quite a few different products. I bought 5 products and the total came to £34.90 which I found incredibly resonable considering the quality and shades I came away with. So, without further ado, here's what I bought!

KIKO Water Eyeshadow Shade #212 Emerald Green - £8.90

What attracted me to the Kiko Water Eyeshadows is first of all how shimmery and luminescent they were. The colours just seemed to sparkle in the store and stood out so much to me. I also really liked that these shadows are so versatile, and can be used both wet and dry. At £8.90 it was the most expensive item in my haul. It was a risky purchase, as I'm not usually one for blue or green eyeshadow for an everyday wear, but I just love how beautiful they look in photos.

Kiko Street Glam Eyeshadow and Eyeliner Palette #02 - £5.00

In the sale section of the store, I noticed the Kiko Street Glam Eyeshadow and Eyeliner Palette. at only £5.00 and featuring 5 different shades, It would have been foolish not to pick it up. these shadows are gorgeous and shimmery - and like the watercolour eyeshadow, they can also be worn wet or dry. As far as using them as an eyeliner, I'm not sure I would get that much use from them, but i'm willing to give it a shot and try something new. 

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow Shade #15 - £6.90

I'm really into the Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow range from Kiko, and already have quite a few in my collection. I adored this frosted pink shade and thought it would look beautiful in a smoked out eye.

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow Shade #20 - £6.90

One thing I can't stand about a deep black smokey eye, is the fallout from black eyeshadow when trying to blend it. When I saw theLong Lasting black eyeshadow stick, I had to have it. I have high hopes for this and am really hoping that the creamy consistency will make it a lot easier to blend and save me from the clean up.

Kiko Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow Shade #43 - £6.90

My final pick and purchase was the Long Lasting Eyeshadow stick in Shade #43 which is a beautiful icey blue. For some reason I seemed to be on a blue and green eyeshadow binge this day, and couldn't resist adding another to my collection. I'm looking forward to trying out new looks with this shade.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of the products I purchased, which you liked the most and least! Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Em xxx