DAZED AND CONFUSED!

A short post to inform you of an amazing events taking place at various Topshop's around the country this week. Dazed Digital, the online sister of magazine Dazed and Confused will be holding workshops discussing the transformation of fashion and style moving online. Although i strong believe that the fashion print glossy format will be around forever and a day, its delusional to ignore the rising presence of fashion taking over the internet - who needs to be invited to a Burberry show when you can watch it at home streamed live to your Macbook whilst wearing your pjs? heh. With hundreds and thousands of nobodies (everyday you and i's) writing blogs commenting on the latest trends and runway designs, the lines of fashion critique and comments are somewhat becoming blurred. But i think thats exciting right? 

Topshop says:

Join the Dazed Digital team as they be talk us through their role in representing fashion in the digital age. From generating the largest independent fashion week coverage four times a year, with rolling show reports from all fashion capitals, to keeping the Dazed DNA alive by supporting and highlighting new design and photography talent.

Get an insight into the world of online fashion publishing and get advice on how to make the most of your photographs online.

Liverpool - Wednesday 1st June, 6-7pm

London Oxford Circus - Thursday 2nd June, 6-7 pm

Dublin - Friday 3rd June, 6-7pm

Manchester Arndale - Thursday 9th June, 6-7pm

If you are looking to pursue a career within the fashion or publishing industry i strongly suggest you pop on down, or even if you intrigued by the advice for your blog. Publishing isn't just on paper anymore, whilst fashion survived solely on print before, online is a whole new world. I shall definitely be hotfooting it over straight from work, especially so as Dazed and Confused was founded by Jefferson Hack and Rankin whilst they were students at London College of Print - my ends, i've literally just studied for my magazine publishing degree. Topshop do some fabulous free fashion events, its definitely in my eyes worth a visit! 

Will you be popping along? 

I think i might do a separate ramble on print vs blogs, slightly bias of course! 

Juicebox

I've been searching, looking up, down, all around for that shade, the fine balance between baby pink and light tones of coral. No chunks of glitter please, but a rather lovely shimmer to highlight and to create that subtle flush of colour that pops on the apples of the cheek, brightening your complexion and creating the perfect sun-kissed glow. Not too peachy, definitely not orange, but not quite bubble gum pink. You know that blush? I do, i just haven't found it just yet, but i found some lovely contenders along the way..

Jemma Kidd - 5th Avenue - (£12.00) 

I have religiously used this blush since i bought it, becoming a firm favourite in my make-up bag. It deposits the right amount of coral pop on your cheeks without being crazy, something i can apply in a 2 minute rush without worrying. I can rely on it to go with any look, it instantly adds warmth and a healthy glow. The shimmer is barely there in a good way, adding a highlighting effect without becoming a disco ball. Highly recommend. 

Bobbi Brown - Calypso Coral (£17.00)

Do not be fooled but its tangerine screaming allure in the pan, it translates in to a lovely bright shade of wearable coral. A soft cream consistency, it best to apply with a stippling brush rather than fingers - as it is so bright. It easily blended, but less is the more definitely being the way to go. This certainly packs a punch in both the winter and summer months! 

Elf - Candid Coral (£3.50)

Similar in style to the Nars blush packaging, don't let Candid Coral fool you into thinking the same with pigmentation. A very, very sheer light shade of coral which can be built up. But honestly, i like the sheerness. It adds a hint of colour to the cheeks, very natural for the summer or to simply accompany a heavy eye or lip. It also doubles up as a highlighter too, with a slight shimmer. Just pretty really!

Nars - Deep Throat (£21.50)

If i could choose one blush to last me forever more, it would be this badboy. Ignore the filthy connotations of its title, Deep Throat is as pretty as can be. If you are yet to step into the world of Nars, let this be your first purchase. Ignore the hype around Orgasm, Deep Throat is personally my all time favourite. Not only is the shade the perfect mix of pinky coral, it has amazing pigmentation and the only blush i find, to last through an entire working day. Non-offensive baby pink with a slight shimmer and tinge of coral, this is your must-have.

If your a bit sceptical of the price, look out for an ASOS discount where its sold online or alternatively, Nars do some fabulous value gift sets that nine times out of ten contain Deep Throat, alongside some other Nars iconic products.

Nars - Gina (£21.50)

The mistaken free Nars blush that ASOS sent me in a strange cock-up. Gina is borderline orange, straying away from coral. It looks almightily scary, but i wasn't going to pass up a freebie. To be honest i haven't used it a great deal, simply because it is so shockingly orange. And with such strong pigmentation i need to use a gentle hand, although it does i must admit blend out rather well. I think i'll reserve this for when i've built up more of a tan, and resist looking like a orange zebra.  

Nars - Gilda (£21.50)

The blush i originally ordered, but they didn't send. It did however make its way to me in the end, and like Gina its still waiting to be used on a more sunkissed face. A more reddish orange, its less bright as the other corals i own, more dusty shall we say. Serious blending and very natural eyes needed, but alas still very pretty, and rather different.

Laura Mercier - Lotus Pink (£20.50)

My love affair with Laura Mercier continues. This blusher was made to stand out. When i say pink pop, i i'm not kidding. A slight reflex of coral (how did you not guess?) it is crazy, flamboyantly beautiful! I need to start using this more. It's Deep Throats much brighter brighter cousin - the Space NK sales assistant assured me, of course, i'll buy it!

Laura Mercier Creme Cheek Colour - Oleander (£18.50)

A dusty rose pink made for winter months, its not as light in consistency as the Bobbi Brown, meaning it needs a dab on the back of your hand in order to deposit the right amount on the cheek. It may not look all sparkly and exciting, but its definitely my go to in the winter.

Mac -Peaches (£17.00)

My first peach blusher, i find it hard to wear as a blush. Its quite dark and hard to blend, but i use it as a more soft contour. Too pale to pull it off completely.  

Mac - Pink Swoon (£17.00)

My mother was given this by Lisa Elderidge, to which i swiftly borrowed it and never returned, as you can see. This was my first real blush, i used it every day and soon realised there was more to blushers than pretty pinks. Pink Swoon however is seriously underrated, everyone harps on about Dolly Mix or Well Dressed, when really Pink Swoon is the most simple sheer baby pink that can be built up to create such a lovely colour. It works well with any look, and i most definitely think it should be a staple in any Mac hoarders collection without a doubt. 

Mac - Shell Beauty Powder - Limited Edition from Liberty of London

I clearly bought this on a whim, seduced by the Liberty print. I still can't quite fathom this collection as Liberty still don't even stock Mac in their make-up department, hinting much?

I also still can't quite work out what a beauty powder is, a more sheer highlighting blush? A highly iridescent sheeny golden pink highlight only to be worn on hot summers day, in fear of reflecting too much sunlight, subsequently blinding passers by. Either way, it sure is pretty.. as a highlight.

Accessorise - Pretty Pink (£4.50)

Another blusher thats actually a highlighter. Sigh. I had high hopes of this baked blush, but it remains unloved.

 Bourjois - Paris Rose Coup De Foundre (£6.99)

A lovely pink toned shimmery blush, similar to Orgasm strangly - see a pattern here? However, it has the ghastly Bourjois smell of roses, it continuously falls out of the packaging and the baked top layer constantly needs to be scratched off to receive any suitable pigmentation- talk about effort.

Sleek - Rose Gold (£4.20)

It is what it is, rose gold. Its pink with crazy amazing gold sheen reflect. Nars Orgasm without the chunks of glitter, perfect! Looks a tad scary in pan and needs a light hand but is definitely a complete utter bargain for its quality and pay off, definitely recommend. 

Une Cream Blush - Grand Air (£8.99)

I won this in a twitter competition and what can i say? Rather bad quality for a rather expensive drug store blusher. I adore the rusty yet dusty red shade, but i literally have to ram my brush in the product like a mad women to get any pay off. Seriously annoying.

Looking at the mirror on top, you can tell i took my photos in the garden!

So this is my very long rambly blushers post! From writing this i think its clear that i own ENOUGH pink and coral blushers to last me for the foreseeable future, but, alas theres always room for more! 

What is your all time favourite blush?  

You've got the love.

Precisely three months ago i decided to embark on a journey of hair growth, strictly the hair on my head of course. After my lovely hair dresser announced that my shoulder length hair was simply just 'done' growing, i set out to prove her (and my stubborn locks) wrong. I decided the way forward was solving the problem deep down, completing changing my routine to conditioning it back to health, in order to stimulate growth. 

I'm rather well behaved when it comes to my hair, i religiously have it trimmed every nine weeks at my local Rush salon and it's never met a bottle of bleach either. I was however, intrigued to try a more natural approach rather than slathering my hair in chemicals - i'm looking at you Lee Stafford Hair Growth - by using products that are sulphate and paraben free.

  Let me break it down, sulphates and parabens are chemicals used within the cosmetic industry, whilst deemed 'safe' for usage, by cutting out these extra chemicals it is a more gentle, 'organic' way of washing one's hair. I'm not going to pretend that i know all the in's and out's of this chemical talk, but i gave it a whirl and had some amazing results.

My hair is definitely more healthy in appearance, in terms of shininess and being more sleek and manageable. I've also noticed a distinct lack of split-ends, something my rather thin hair battles when a hair dressers appointment is creeping up. And most importantly, the ultimate aim from this routine, my stubborn mop has grown - hurrah! Rather quite quickly, may i add.

Here are the products i bow down to:  

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Shampoo and Conditioner (bought here £7.50 each)

These two products have certainly been raved about constantly on blogs, so i decided to see what all the fuss was about and ordered myself a pair. Without the jargon of most shampoos and conditioners promising shine like no other, i was pleasantly surprised to actually see real results. It took a few weeks to kick in, but these bad boys have certainly had an astonishing impact on my hair. It wasn't until a work colleague commented on how shiny and healthy my hair looked did i realise how amazing they are.  

Being sulphate free i was worried how well they would lather, i found this not to be a problem in the slightest. Although the conditioner doesn't exactly feel moisturising in the shower, my hair is definitely soft and sleek for sure! I have gone on to purchase these products again and probably will do for the time being.

Cherry Almond Leave in Conditioner - TIGI (bought here for £5.70)

After searching high and low for a natural leave-in conditioner i finally came across the Love Planet Peace range from Tigi. I snapped it up in minutes when i saw the scent was cherry almond, its smells so yummy, i find my self having to stop myself from eating it. I'm a stickler for leave in conditioners, they add an extra surge of moisture for my ends, especially as my hair is so fine, it really needs that extra love and condition from heated styling.

 I've used all brands from the disappointing bog standard L'Oreal, to impressive yet expensive Kerastace, so i was interested to see TIGI would match up. It did so surprising well, each night i slathered a 10 pence piece amount on my ends and left to air dry naturally. In the morning my hair felt softer and tame, and three months on my split ends are no where to be seen. And that, ladies is the biggest test of all. 

Wen Intensive Hair Treatment - (bought here for £18.95)

Lastly was a hair mask by the brand Wen, of which i received as a press sample. This cucumber fresh smelling mask comes in at a rather pricey £18, but with only a selected number of brands producing natural products its clear to see why it holds a high price. 

Its important to add that I'm not fussy when it comes to hair masks, i've used all types of brands and been  fairly impressed with all results. I usually keep them for Sunday pamper nights, so every week i moisturised the thick cream in to my hair and left to sink in for 5-10 minutes. After washing out and styling, my hair was left amazingly blow-dry-esk perfect. Eat your heart out Cheryl. For such a thick mask, my hair was soft, light and bouncy. So much so, i found myself using this product every other night as it made styling a dream. Until i realised that i was quickly running out, so it was resigned to special occasion washes. Thinking back i seem to always go through this process with hair treatments, slathering it on like its going out of fashion.

Sadly my pot is no more, and however much i fell for this product, the rather high price is a complete no-no. Not when i can pick up a sachet of good old trusty Aussie for 99p, and still have similar results.

My rather long ramble on hair yet again. What products do you swear by? 

I'm trailing a styling product at the moment, so watch this space.

Alexa.

After four months of blood sweat and tears, my printer finally gave birth to my dissertation. Weighing in a hefty 116 pages and 26,430 words, this was the hardest achievement to date. If you ever need to know anything about men's magazines - i'm your girl. No seriously, there is so much more than bog standard set of boobs and a few jokes, men are down right strange. After a strong rum, I soon decided that i definitely needed a treat.

I swapped this bad boy..

For this lovely young lady. The Mulberry Alexa. 

I have been umming and ahhing over the Alexa for a very, very long time as you may remember. After much pondering in House of Fraser (poor sales assistant thought i was crazy), and of course being slightly persuaded by Michelle, i really decided i needed the Alexa in my life. Although i had slight reservation about size, and whether it is less roomy is compared to my Bayswater, i realised i'm not actually a student anymore (sob!), so it nicely holds all my necessities and of course the kitchen sink, so all is well. I also went for black leather, considering my Bayswater is tan. Bloody crazy - i can't quite believe it!

I'm a very happy girl!

Just a note to say, in case you were wondering, as alas, i am a student and i do only work part-time, i am a very dedicated saver. Armed with both my 21st birthday money and Christmas money, i was lucky enough to be able purchase. Although i do think it is horrendously over-priced for what brand it is, i was lucky to receive a large discount from a friend who works in fashion industry, of which has no correlation to maa blog.

one word: bloomin' heck.

I need the dollar.

I'm just going to say it: i'm a Lauren Conrad fangirl. Don't judge. Whether its stalking her style or watching endless re-runs of The Hills, LC has well and truly got me hooked and following her every stylish move. From the infamous kitten eyeliner flick to her pinned back braid, i aim to adopt her classic, simple yet sophisticated look. Miss Conrad has come a long way from Laguna Beach days, she successfully has her own business empire, from a collection in Kohls, fronting the Mark make-up line in the US, and of course not forgetting her LA Candy book series which fast tracked her to the The New York Times best seller list. Not bad for an MTV reality starlet, eh? 

Since her Style book was released i've been itching to read, in the mean time of getting round to finally purchasing it, i stumbled across the recently launched The Beauty Department.

The Beauty Department is penned by Lauren and her make up artist Amy Nadine and hairstylist Kristen Ess, jam packed of beauty news and advice, with tutorials, and step-by-step guides. LC who basically lives and breaths curling tongs and liquid liner, i can't wait. Who else better to learn from to finally learn the knack of liquid liner! 

Enjoy! ;) 

I think i'm in love with a girl 2 doors down.

There is nothing like a spot of retail therapy, or in my case, buying most of the internet. It's so hard to resist the lure of Topshop online, even more so when the shops (or the weather) can't make its mind up over what season we are currently in. Whilst my house literally turns into a small post office next week with deliveries - all shall be revealed soon may i add - i've come across some fabulous offers i had to share.. 

H&M 

I stumbled across these discounts on twitter somewhere, one for £5 off and another for £10 off - the best bit? They can be used together! Not sure on the expiry date, so hop over there quickly - perfect for picking up some summer basics. I admit that the H&M online shopping experience is rather troublesome, but with a discount of £15, you really can't grumble. I spied a lovely navy dress thats currently on route to me.

code 8964 is for £5 off.

code 9217 is for £10 off, can be used together!    

ASOS

This 20% discount came with Look magazine, go go go! Nars, River Island, Dahlia? Yes please! My biggest recommendation is the Jemma Kidd blush in Fifth Avenue, perfect coral blush. Although this River Island dress has caught my eye, these Ray Ban ripoffs from ASOS are pretty tempting and Nars lipgloss in Orgasm is bloody tempting i dare say!

code ASOSLOOK - 20% ends midnight.

Debenhams

This weekend Debenhams are offering 10% off all skin care and cosmetics, with the likes of Mac and Bobbi Brown, oh snap! I so want to try the Clinique Tinted Moisture Surge after receiving a sample in Glamour, Benefit lip-glosses are just perfect in my eyes (especially Life on the A-List) and my all time favourite must-have eye cream GinZing by Origins.

Discount automatically taken off at the checkout, with free delivery - there is no excuse.

Naked Body Care 

The lovely Leanne highlighted this amazing offer for me on discount site Groupon are offering the fab deal of buying a £20 voucher to spend online at Naked body care for the bargain price of £8. I love this natural brand, it hosts a wide range of gorgeous scented lotions and potions for sensitive skin, all paraben and SLS free - good if your looking for a cheaper alternative of Liz Earle shampoo/conditioner. Their body washes are to die for, and are very gentle. It can be found in Boots, but the online site has some fantastic bundles of products at very very reasonable prices.

New Look 

This is the last weekend for 20% student discount, seriously impressed with their spring/summer collections. I fully intend to BURN my NUS card to the ground now that i'm no longer a student - sob!

Glossy Box

I'm sure everyone and their grandmother must have heard about Glossy Box by now, but if you've been living under a rock for the past month let me explain. Glossy Box is a bloody brilliant idea, each month for a subscription price of £10 you will receive a Glossy Box that contains five premium beauty miniatures, from the likes of Nars and Laura Mercier. This service is a fabulous to try out high-end products before paying full price. With British make-up counters being so crazily stingy when it comes to samples, Glossy Box is your perfect middle man! I have already ordered my first box which should be delivered this week, so watch this space! 

Crikey, next they will be offering it for free, I WISH! 

Oh what became of the likely lads

On Thursday i ventured out for a good dose of retail therapy with Sarah. I had to pop into H&M to return these scalloped shorts much to my sadness, as they really didn't fit well and to be honest, i can't quite pull off the fact they look liked a over sized pair of granny knicks in a 'stylish' way. However, i managed to score this lace dress, another item from the Conscious Collection, in which i had tried to buy previously but couldn't find it in my size! 

Lace dress - H&M (£29.99)

I love the lace sleeves, its a floral pattern rather than standard lace but i adore it! It fits perfectly, so light and summary, i just need the sun to make another appearance!

cream tired dress - French Connection (£110.00)

Seeing as my parents have already got suited and booted for my graduation, i had a quick peek in French  Connection to gaze lovingly on their beautiful selection of dresses. This tired piece i have had my little eye on since my 18th birthday, yes it really has been in stock that long! After a quick whirl in the fitting room, i decided it was the one. It fits perfectly, its simple, classic, just what i'm looking for. Of course i looked again at the price tag and shuddered, and it didn't make its way home with me, sad face. 

Thoughts?

I also bought the loveliest sheer silk racer blouse, and have made an order with Topshop, of which i will show in due course.

I say a little prayer for you!

Olivia Palermo for Marie Claire June, UK,

I adore Miss Palermo, although she looks slightly different here and i can't quite put my finger on it. She doesn't look as bronzed maybe? Even so, she is still as beautiful as ever.

How us simpletons can steal her look:

"Maintain yourself. Don’t go to sleep with makeup on, have a great tailor, get your shoes brushed up and re-soled regularly."

If only, it were that simple!

Girl with the Golden Touch.

Despite the fact i don't specifically write about beauty, that doesn't derive from the fact that i like to purchase blushers like they are going out of fashion. But when does it just get silly? Silly when you own fifty pretty similar coral blushers? I suppose so, but i really do wear every single one, i do alternate. And fifty really was just an exaggeration.

ELF is a brand i come back to when i need a quick fix, as much as that makes me sound like a crack whore. When payday feels a million miles off (a couple of days) and i feel bored of my entire collection, their free shipping offers just seal the deal and suck me in. ELF is a cheap, reliable fix. I wouldn't say i could rave about all their products, but when items are under three pounds, you can't really go wrong and some of their products are pretty good finds!

Gel Liner in Coffee - £3.50

My relationship with gel liner is pretty rocky, after purchasing the Clinique gel liner in black, i found it hard to create a slick, smooth line like i do with my liquid liner. It just appeared messy and smudgy, which was of course the perfect formula for a smokey eye, but not really what i was looking for. It does however make a fantastic tight liner, on the bottom and top rims of the eye - it lasts so much longer than a kohl pencil i dare say!

On a whim i decided to purchase the ELF liner in Coffee mainly because ELF had a fantastic 20% offer, and secondly i really wanted to try a brown shade, which i was unable to find in a liquid liner. And somehow i ended up with two for the discounted price of one!

I am astonished at how easy this liner is to apply and how well it defines, without being 

too full on. I do like to wear liner every day, but i've decided black is way to harsh for every day. But Coffee is the perfect substitute, it still defines but creates a more softer day-time look. It also applies a lot easier than the black Clinique liner, probably because the brown is more softer and a smooth line isn't always needed. Brush wise i much prefer to use my Mac 209 brush rather than the brush given simply because i prefer a thin, precise liner. Although i do spot clean this brush after every usage, just because with the more product build up on the brush the harder it is to create a defined line. 

I really recommend this liner, if you are either looking to try your hand first time with gel liner, it is a cheaper alternative. Or if you are looking for a more softer, less harsh day time liner alternative.

Candid Coral Blush - £3.50

This coral blusher snuck it's self within my basket, and i'm pleasantly surprised. It's a very sheer coral shimmer, no large chunks of glitter. I wouldn't say its very pigmented, but thats not a bad thing. It provides a light flush of pinky, golden coral. A product you can use in a hurry, without worrying your a tangoed zebra. 

Pearl Nail Varnish - £1.50

One of my favourite nail polishes ever. The perfect dupe to the famous Chanel Pearl Drop, but dare i say better? The  swatches i've seen of the look rather yellow under-toned, hideous. This full on pearly white shade is so very pretty, and adds a funny twist on nude classic nails.

What are your ELF must haves? I also own most of their brushes!

Bittersweet.

My absence has paid off, i now have a good sixty pages of dissertation draft, detailing the exciting trials and tribulations of men's magazines. Twenty thousand words later my brain is frazzled to say the least. I really am a worrier, a total stress head. Embarrassingly so, that when a lady stopped me a few weeks back to ask where i purchased my dress, i replied FHM not H&M. Queue awkward looks. 

Alas freedom is still very far off, as i have my final meeting with my supervisor tomorrow to discuss whether any last amendments have to be made. Despite the fact i'm shitting it and feel like projectile vomiting with nerves, i'm so relived to finally say i'm somewhat finished. So whilst i keep everything double crossed and pray that it doesn't need a complete overhaul, i leave you with some lovely lustings. 

Mexicana Embroidered Shift Dress - Topshop (£38.00)

Whilst this dress looks rather basic, the embroidery detail on the sleeves and chest is awfully pretty. A perfect, simple summer dress that can be worn casually with tan sandals and loose curls, or dressed up with wedges and loose up do.. lusting much? 

Red Flower Print Wrap Sundress - Topshop (£36.00)

As soon as i spotted this dress on a mannequin i was instantly drawn too it, surprisingly so. I never tend to branch out to bright colours, preferring to stick with classic neutral tones. But saying that, i'm really drawn to the burnt orangany red shade, not to mention the 50's style is definitely warranting a trying on session for sure!

 Chiffon Side Tuck Blouse - Topshop (£34.00)

I've been biding my time to find the perfect chiffon blouse, some are far too 'shirty' for my liking, and not near enough feminine. I adore the cute gold buttons and the loose sleeves, its simple yet classic - plus it would go with absolutely anything. 

Cream Beaded Jacket -Miss Selfridge (£65.00)

Every season i gaze longingly at the embellished beaded blouses and jackets, but completely thrown off by the price. They had a stunning dark navy beaded and sequinned blouse around Christmas at Topshop,  although i'm sure i would have worn it to death, the fifty plus price tag is just too steep. But i can't help but fall in love all over again with this Miss Selfridge jacket throw over. It doesn't have to be overpowering, simply over a white tee matched with some cigarette pants it could look fabulous. yay or nay?

Orange Blossom Tea Dress - New Look (£39.99)

Another amazing piece from New Look, still seriously upping their game this season. This tea dress is disgustingly pretty, with tiny little buttons adding the perfect touch. I literally need this in my life pronto. Clearly i am not the only one, as this limited edition dress is only available in size 8 for the mean time. This would look perfect with a pair of tan brogues or ballet shoes. 

Scallop Collar Top - New Look (£19.99)

Some while ago i spotted a shirt in H&M, even now i feel bloody angry at myself for not purchasing it. A simple crisp white shirt, yet it had a small black ribbon tie around the neck, in a little bow. Ever since, i have searched high and low for a similar style.Yet this New Look blouse is near enough the same, with an added scalloped detail collar, how many trends can you fit in one blouse eh?

Any items you are lusting over recently? It is pay-day tomorrow!