EcoTools Review

Recently i have been obsessed with EcoTools make up brushes, the finish they seem to give is amazing. i bought the Domed Bronzer Brush a while back and i absolutely loved it, so i bought a few more online and i got them cheaper than i would get them here.

Domed Bronzer Brush

this was around £13 i think and from from Boots.
I use this for applying bronzer all around the sides of my face and also to blend out in bronzer or concealer used to contour the cheekbones.
i am really impressed with this, as it’s quite a stiff brush. i was convinced it was going to apply the bronzer in a big blob but it applies even and really easily.
i once tried to use this for foundation, and it was a huge NO NO, the liquid went on my face in big blotches rather than evenly!

Deluxe Fan Brush

this is one of my newer brushes, which i love! this was $5.82 which was around £4.00. i can’t see it on the Boots website, so i don’t know how much the retail price would be.
i use this with Hoola around the sides of my face – and i know i just said this about the Bronzer Brush – and to contour my cheeks.
i also like to apply a highlighter on my cheekbones and the center of my face.

Custom Coverage Buffing Brush

this brush is not on Boots.com but i paid $5.75 for it, which is around £3.90, thats amazing for a make up brush this good!
this is beyond my new complete absolute favourite shiny amazing brush!! i’ve been using to apply my foundation/tinter moisturiser/BB cream. i can’t actually believe how perfect the finish is on it.

i’ve been using it with my Estee Lauder Double Wear, Bobbi Brown Tinted Moisturiser and No7 BB Cream. So here you can see i’ve been using it with three completely different types of product, and they all have different consistences, coverage, purposes etc.
I pour some of the product to my hand then lift it up with the brush and apply it to my face, using swirling motions, buffing it or slightly stippling it on.
i am 100% satisfied with this brush, and would recommend this to strangers on the street.

Airbrush Concealer

i wasnt really sold with this brush until around now to be honest, the only thing is that you need to be careful that you don’t pick up too much product. i merely dab the brush into a concealer before using it on my face.
i also find it works best with a concealer wand applicator. i use my Estee Lauder Double Wear concealer and i apply it under my eyes, then i use my brush in light, circular motions. Lighter around the eyes, as this is the most sensitive area.
using it with a cream concealer i find you need to be a little frugal with the concealer you use, if you use too much you end up with far too much product and
1. the concealer looks too cakey
2. the “airbrush” effect, that the brush is meant to have, just doesnt work

Six Piece Essential Eye Set

this contained 5 brushes and a travel bag for them, but i ditched the bag ’cause i wouldnt use it really. the brushes are travel size, so i wasnt sure what i really thought of them, i like 2, maybe 3 out of the 5 i got.

large eyeshadow brush – the website says “the large eye brush to blend a base shadow over the entire eyelid.” i use this brush to set concealer under my eye with a setting powder or a MAC MSF powder, which works so i don’t actually know how effective this is at applying eyeshadow.
angled crease brush – this “adds definition to the outer crease of your eye”, i use my no7 Crease/Blending brush to add the crease colour and then i use this brush to go back in with the final darkest colour to really make the crease stand out. Looking at the brush i thought it was too big, and looked like it was make a mess, but it’s really good and a handy brush!
petite eye shading brush – this “s perfect for an accent color.” i like this brush for applying the highlight colour in the inner corner. If i’m doing a really dramatic cut crease look, i use this brush or other small brushes to do the crease as it needs to be more defined to achieve that look.
highlighting brush – this is used to “accentuate the brow bone and inner corners of the eye”. this isnt used for either of these things. i use this to blend colours in the crease and outer corners. i couldnt even imagine applying anything into the inner corners with this thing! it’s a really big brush for that.
smudge brush –  this is for “mudging the shadow and liner along the lash line for a smoky finish” it’s probably my favourite in this pack actually! it does EXACTLY what it says and i use it for EXACTLY what i’m supposed to! the brush is stuff enough to manipulate eyeliner and shadows to achieve the perfect smokey eye!

this blog seems horrifically rambly, but i had to share it with. i am in love with ecotools and everytime i’m in boots i always just standing in the aisles just staring at them. i would definitely recommend this brand of brushes to anyone and everyone. they are amazing, and not too pricey!! especially if you get them on ebay! or anywhere else.

and they’re ECO FRIENDLY!

what more could you ask for

LCx

5 of my favourites and apologies.

i have been terrible with my blog…i have been terrible with the organisation of my life altogether! i had so much fun writing my blog before – regardless of how many readers or followers i ever had – i don’t know why i ever stopped.

recently I’ve found myself thinking “oh that’s my favourite…blah blah” but in actual fact I don’t have a favourite movie, i have bazillions, and I don’t have a favourite food, i’m a greedy girl and have bazillions. i have lists and lists of favourite songs and favourite movies. I’ve just had an idea to narrow it down to 5. it’s not an easy job…

my favourite movies 

mary poppins – by far the best live action Disney movie ever. “best Disney movie” is one of the most difficult questions asked.
sleepless in seattle – i’ll say it here, i’d rather watch the same action film 10 times over than watch something like The Notebook. i hate sappy love stories, but sleepless in seattle gets me all the time.
breakfast at Tiffany’s – what can i say? i adore Audrey Hepburn and one day i’ll live a life as non-fussed as she is. she is a gorgeous actress and the story is amazing.
the Grinch – best christmas movie ever, i could easily watch this every day of the festive season! and i sit and say the words along with all those Who’s and the Grinch.
the day after tomorrow – without a doubt one of the most believable “disaster/global warming” movies. Jake Gylenhaal just adds to the awesomeness.
i want to add so much more…

my favourite songs

wham !club tropicana – i dont even know why? its such a fab song, it makes me think of holidays and summer and those things make me happy really. i love the birds at the start of it, cos it gets me all excited ’cause i know thats my jammmm!
oasis, she’s electric – one of oasis’ best songs, completely! i dont usually care for the whining tones of noel or liam but this songs really catchy and happy.
justin timberlake, sexyback – has to be here, it’s a complete tune and he is a complete BABE. the live version from his futuresex/loveshow with lovestoned before it has to be the best thing i’ve ever witnessed.
marvin gaye and tammi terrell, ain’t no mountain high enough – always think of the scene from stepmom. such an amazing song, it’s a really happy cheery tune and reminds me of my sister somehow.
take that, never forget – should really be at the very start of this list. i’ve seen take that sing this twice. once at their never forget tour and then at their progress tour. the song actually gives me goosebumps, the atmosphere at both concerts was phenomenal. it was also the last song played at my 21st birthday party, so it means alot to me and reminds me of me and family drunken!

my favourite foods

any pasta that me and my sister make – every wednesday night i go to Linda’s for dinner, we always make pasta and every week it’s a different sauce. we cut up onions, peppers, chillis, any meat, then throw in some spices and garlic and then chopped tomatoes. it’s always different and theres only a bad sauce once every 6 weeks or so.
homemade soup – my mums homemade soup is so yummy, nobodys will ever taste the same (not even the pot i have simmering over at the cooker!!) it’s great on rainy/winter nights.
my dads curries – my dad makes immense curries. the spicier the better! i love spicy food, i try put chilli powder into everything i ever make!!
Melo’s mum’s food – my friend Melo’s mum make a mean indian curry! any kind really. it’s amazing, she makes amazing dahl and amazing chipati’s and amazing rice. everything is, well, amazing.
TGI’s boneless wings – i can’t every make these as good as TGI’s do, as much as i try!!! i also love Applebee’s boneless wings a bit better but seen as i live here and not america, these make do!!

favourite TV shows

friends – whose favourite TV show isnt friends? i’ve never come across anyone who doesn’t like friends. my dad sits and his catchphrase for watching friends is “is this supposed to be funny” but he sat every thursday night and watched it and even laughed!
lost – might have to watch this over and over and over again before i actually get the plot, ’cause at the end it’s complete “HUH” material. made no sense, but the suspense at the end of every episode made me lost about half of the sleep i should have gotten in 2009!
ugly betty – so gutted it lasted 4 seasons, i loved every minute of UB! she was by far the most irritating character at times but so entertaining and i loved her transformation. America Ferrera is such a babe!
one tree hill – it took linda 7 seasons before i even started to watch it, i tried twice to start watching the DVDs but half way through season 1 i hated it. so third time lucky she gave me season 3 and said it gets good then and i loved it!
new girl – its really new and hasnt got a patch on friends or even things like scrubs, but oh my god, i love new girl and am patiently waiting for the next season and the first season only ended a fortnight ago! i wish i was Jess! she’s actually amazing.

smaller lists that need no explanation i cannot be bothered with! four lists should suffice but for now i need to try not burn this homemade soup….wish me luck

LCSxo

7 deadly sins of make up

i’ve been watching videos and reading all kinds of blogs and read some tags for the “7 deadly sins of beauty and make up”. it seemed really fun, so i’m gonna give that a bash…

wrath
what product do you have a love/hate relationship with?
probably any kind of loose pigment that i own – and that would be very little because of the issues i seem to have with it. i have a few MAC pigments and i always get fall out under my eye and can’t every seem to fix that situation. then i get it all over my carpet… like the time when i didn’t put the lid on properly and never noticed then knocked it over and it went EVERYWHERE. then i get really mad! but i love it because it’s a great colour and it turns out really bright and long-lasting. my solution to these problems is either using a tissue under your eye to catch the fall out or dabbing loose powder under your eye to catch the fall out and then brushing it all away after eyeshadow application.

greed
1. whats the most inexpensive make up product you use?
probably has to be a rimmel lip-liner i bought quickly before my 21st party. it must have cost me like £4 or something and it’s actually really good. i really rely on my lip-liner when i’m wearing one of my MAC pink colours, just so it’s not liable to smudge or anything because i fully hate hate hate smudged lip colour!
2. whats the most expensive make up product you use?
has to be the Estee Lauder double wear foundation i use. it’s quite costly, but it’s the best foundation i’ve ever used. i could wear it on a night out and don’t feel scared that it’s running off when i’m warm or patchy. the only issue i have with it is that i need two shades because of my weird skin!!

gluttony
whats the most delicious make up product you own?
this might be cheating but this isn’t a make up product this is just a beauty product. it’s my Body Shop strawberry body butter. i could easily eat it, it smells like strawberry munch bunch yogurt and it’s so creamy and makes my skin feel and smell great. if this doesn’t count the next one has to be Georgia from Benefit, the Box O’ Powder. You remember those smelly gel pens you used to get? well…this smells just like the orange one!amazing.

sloth
what make up product do you skip due to laziness?
this would be eyeshadow. i can’t ever put just one colour on, it has to be 5-8 colours. especially if i’m using my Urban Decay Naked Palette. and sometimes if i’m just going out for a drive or dinner with my friends, i cannot be bothered with that!

pride
what make up product makes you feel most confident about yourself?
definitely foundation. i hate when my skin is really bad although it could possibly be my own fault for not properly taking care of my skin. so when i have spots and especially in warm weather when my skins pigment just goes all over the place and my skin gets all blotchy, foundation is my best friend for covering the imperfections and evening out my skin tone. and i do feel better about myself.

lust
what trait in the opposite sex attracts you to them most?
this is so random? this isn’t even a make up or beauty related question. nonetheless it’s in the list… probably confidence. i cannot stand having to take the lead or anything. i don’t mean dancing and. i hate boys that you can’t hold a conversation with, they also need have to have good chat…and nice eyes! blue preferably.

envy
what make up product would you most like to receive as a gift?
Make Up Forever Flash Palette!!! i have wanted this forever!!! and it’s far too expensive!

these are my deadly sins.

catch up: i’ve said before, that i’ve been on a make up ban but i’ve ordered new shoes and cute jewellery from River Island and i’ll get them on my blog. River Island have a cute new collection and the jewellery is actually really inexpensive so i was shocked that i’ve gone and spent £21 and managed to buy 5 items! and none of them were sale items.it’s also summer and i’m off to TITP in 43 days (when it’s also my 22nd birthday. note: flash palette…) so i need to get out and buy some festival wear. the weather in Glasgow is gorgeous right now and i am temping in an office – just my luck. so when i get my beautiful pay from this job, i’ll be out shopping!!!!

LCSx

april favourites

i have been really bad on the blog front but i’m not gonna lie life’s pretty boring!! but in April i tried a couple of new shower products, no new make up products as i’m on a make up buying ban!

since i got blond put in my hair i have been a mega “i-love-my-hair” girl and i try my hardest to take care of it. i get in the shower with every intention of washing my hair, then i think of how long it takes to dry and style and change my mind. it’s a lot of effort, it tires me out to be honest. i probably wash my hair 2-3 times a week. i’ve never been one to wash my hair every day cause that just ruins your hair.

i always try different shampoos, conditioners and treatments etc, and i’ve tried a few specifically for blond hair, and when i was in Boots i seen the John Freida Sheer Blond Go Blonder range and bought the shampoo and conditioner.
these products contain citrus extracts and chamomile, and these ingredients help to maintain the healthy colour in your hair, by tightening the cuticles and strengthening the hair shaft. for all shades of natural, colour-treated or highlighted blonde hair, which means you don’t need to have naturally blond hair, which i don’t. a few people have reviewed the product online and claimed it’s allowed them to get their hair coloured every 8 weeks instead of 6 weeks, some other people have claimed it hasn’t worked at all. i don’t really understand why it works on some and not others, but i can say it’s not gave me colour so i can get my hair done after longer breaks, but it’s made my awful roots look less bad. another thing i have noticed, i just noticed tonight as i was washing my hair, i go through conditioner like nobody’s business but i feel like this has lasted really long, so i was definitely paying the price for the quantity. i think the formula is quite concentration, so i feel like after the first few times i learned that i don’t need to use as much as i do with other brands.

i am really loving all American TV right now, i’m so wired into Gossip Girl, Desperate Housewives, 90210, 2 Broke Girls (new on E4 – AMAZING) but last week the winner was totally and completely Glee – Wanna Dance With Somebody. the amazing tribute episode would have done the late Whitney Houston proud. i was so impressed. when i seen they were doing a Whitney tribute i was a bit unsure and thought “who can do it as well as Whitney” but i love love loved it. my favourite was Santana and Rachel singing “So Emotional”. i loved that a couple of the songs had their own spin, with a different beat and change of the words (Dance With Somebody).
i have a total and complete girl crush on Santana, and i absolutely hate Rachel, but i really enjoyed this one. Also, normally i can’t watch Kurt on TV but he absolutely KILLED “I Have Nothing”, he was amazing!!! i just loved it, and i think i may have watched it about 3 times since thursday and it’s saved on the Sky+ planner for more screenings!

 this has been a short favourite blog, it’s just that i haven’t had much going on. i’m planning the “30 photos” for June myself. I’m going to find a scavenger photo hunt for the month and try find at least one each day! it’ll be a fun one, i hope!

LCSx

nail drying tips

while painting my nails tonight i discovered just how impatient i am, and had to reapply nail polish about 3 times before i finally learned my lesson and left my nails to dry. i have tried everything and one is most effective.

1. if you apply a really thin coat it’ll dry alot quicker, so maybe 2 or 3 thin coats would work. wait around 2 minutes between each layer. tried and tested and the verdict is a NO. it may work but it takes far too much time and if you’re in a rush that’s a huge NO!

2. loads of cosmetic companies have a range of quick drying polishes which you could use. i read a lot of reviews online and Maybelline New York Express Nail Color seems to be a clear winner. these nail polishes contain a mineral oil that normal polishes don’t, which helps the colour set quickly. tried and tested – i have not. you’d think as a moany impatient nail painter i’d have a huge collection of these nail polishes but i do not, and i will need to invest in some too.

3. using a quick dry nail spray/polish or even quick dry drops on your nails after painting them works a treat. after applying the colour wait around 45 seconds and then:
if using the spray, spray about 12 inches away from the nail and let it dry in for about 10 second
if using a polish, wait about 60 seconds and apply one coat over the nail, then wait about 30 seconds
if using drops, wait about 45 seconds and apply one drop onto the colour, and wait 20 seconds
tried and tested and the verdict was YES. i have used OPI RapiDry spray and polish. both were really good, i was very impressed. except they run out really quickly.

4. using a hairdryer is a really reliable source of nail drying. if your hairdryer has a cool setting, then thats perfect. just use the dryer about 12 inches away and aim it at the nails. don’t use a warm setting as it would actually make the polish more runny! tried and tested and the verdict is YES. this actually works wonders when you’re in a hurry!!

5. pour a bowl of cold water and drop a few ice cubes in before painting your nails, leaving the ice to melt into the water. after painting your nails, let them air dry for about 2 minutes, then sit your hands into the water for 60-90 seconds. don’t move hands around in the bowl, just sit them still. tried and tested and the verdict is YES. alot of reviews and articles on the internet say that using cold water doesn’t help, but i’ve tried it. and this is my opinion, i think my nails dried alot faster!

6. buy a nail drying online off eBay or Amazon or something. the ones i go off eBay weren’t ENTIRELY impressive, but they did kind of help them dry a little quicker. tried and tested and the verdict is MEH. i don’t really know if there are better nail dryers out there and don’t have the money to test them all. so it’d need to be really well reviewed dryers if you’re sure.

if you have any other ways of drying your nails, please, please, please share!

LCSx

amazing soundtracks

i’m a huge fan of movies, and when i’m rummaging through my collection of DVDs looking for one to watch i’ll start singing a song from it, or say to myself “what a freaking amazing soundtrack!”. and whenever i’m shuffling through my ipod every second or third song is from a movie or a TV show.

here are my top 10 favourite soundtracks (not in order)

10 things i hate about you
this CD was the soundtrack to my Florida holiday 2006 or something. every song was so spot on for the moment, and every song is amazing! my favourite song was probably Letters to Cleo – Cruel To Be Kind, and it’s so cute ’cause Patrick gets them to sing it for Kat, for it all to be ruined. Best scene of the whole movie, i think! i love Semisonic – FNT when they’re paintballing, cos they kiss at the end of that scene and it fits in far too well!!
the soundtrack list is right here

project X
just seen this movie quite recently and every song that came on, my friend and me would whisper to each other “what a tune!!!” or “love this song”. it’s such an immense soundtrack, i downloaded it the day after i went to see it. my favourite is kid cudi – pursuit of happiness steve aoki remix. it’s the one that was played in the advert that was constantly played on E4 adverts that were promoting the movie, and i just wanted the song to keep playing!
here’s a link to the list here

tangled
forgot how good the songs were in this until i watched it just yesterday, i was prancing about the house singing along to all the songs. and i have a clear favourite and it’s when will my heart begin! i love Mandy Moore’s voice so much, and this song is really funny, when shes hanging around the house doing all this stuff and painting and then talking about the chinese lanterns!!! i love it, i love it, i love it!
find the songs here

enchanted
i also watched this yesterday and sang the songs word for word. when i got out of hospital five years ago, this had been delivered to the house (along with Pump it up the exercise DVD which gathers dust in my cupboard now…). i watched it loads and the songs are so funny. i love the way enchanted really takes the mickey out of all disney movies. favourite – that’s how you know, when they’re all dancing about the park. it’s absolutely hysterical. there’s really only like 3 or 4 songs that are actually sung, but the music is even good!!
get the song list here

mary  poppins
i know i’m such a Disney freak, but after this there’s no more! for a couple of weeks when i was a kid i spent a few weeks in hospital and every day i watched mary poppins, whenever i sit and watch it i’ll talk along with the characters like a proper 5 year old. supercaligragilisticexpialidocious is my ultimate favourite disney song never mind my favourite mary poppins song! also i love jolly holiday with mary and i love to laugh! amazing, and it really all takes me back to when i was younger!
soundtrack listing here

wizard of oz
this movie is one of my total cheer up films, but i always fast forward to when it goes to colour – i hate non colour movies.  i love the scarecrow, tinman and lion’s song “if i only had a brain/heart/the nerve”. i absolutely adore the lion, and the way he says “noive”. and then also “over the rainbow”, what an amazing song!
wizard of oz songs here

(500) days of summer
as much as this movie irritated me ’cause they never get together (’cause summer was a bitch), the songs in it were really good. i loved the genre of the soundtrack, the songs were all so relaxing, and really nice. they went with the movie and what was really happening in the movie. i feel like the songs are so ironic, they’re all so cheery and happy sounding, that it isn’t really clear that they won’t be together forever.
get them here

a walk to remember
listening to this soundtrack never fails to bring  tear to my eye. they just remind me of one of the saddest movies i’ve ever watched. and like i said before i love mandy moore and i love that she sings in it, the song is amazing. my favourite song in this is mandy moore and jonathon foreman – someday we’ll know. its such a fab song, and it’s played when Landon is doing amazing things for Jamie and it’s such an amazing music scene!
the songs are here

thats my favourites what are yours?

LCSx

march favourites

holy march this month actually flew in and i can’t believe it’s 10th april already. i had a few nights out, parties and a weekend away, so i had to use and pack alot of products and i had to be quite choosy so this is how i came up with my

march favourites

batiste dry shampoo XXL volume
it took me a few uses before i decided i liked it. i felt like it didn’t do what a dry shampoo should – make my greasy hair look greasy – and all it done was make my hair tuggy. but when i realised that i actually need volume in my hair sometimes and it really does work.  i love batiste! any kind of batiste really, but this is especially good when your hair needs that OOMPH!

no7 BBcream
i think i wrote about this in a spring blog so just a quick word about it. i’ve been using this NON STOP and i really do love it.

avon lavender and chamomile room spray
this is fully amazing, i absolutely love lavender scents. i spray this over my bed spread and pillows and spray it on my carpet. lavender is known for it’s healing and calming properties, so when it goes on my bed sheets it makes me so sleepy and i am such a terrible sleeper. recently my bed sheets have been drowned in the spray.

one tree hill
when Linda still lived with us, i tried to start watching one tree hill once, maybe twice and i just wasn’t interested at all. but when it was on E4 on mondays i kept watching it with her and i was loving the more recent series. so i was up at her flat and decided i’d start again, but i started from season 2 and i’ve become obsessed and actually confused (because i’ve been watching the DVDs, the present series and the reruns they have been playing on tv during the day). i’m on season 7 on DVD and the present series, and i really love it. my favourite thing about it, is the music. the soundtrack to one tree hill is actually amazing.

Nicki Minaj Pink Friday:  Roman Reloaded
FREAKING AMAZING!!!! i have actually fallen right in love with her these past few weeks! i love all the songs she’s done on Drake’s new album, the songs shes done with David Guetta and, of course, all her older stuff. my ultimate favourite songs on this album are Roman Holiday and Pound The Alarm. i am so extremely very excited about seeing her at TITP!!!!

I have put myself on a make ban, i don’t think i need anymore. so for now i have no new make up favourites, but i’m open to new hair products and TV shows!

LCSx

big mistake.

i made a huge error in making out like i could complete this challenge ’cause i clearly clearly cannot.

the last pic i uploaded was on the 3rd april. it’s now the 9th and i have pictures but over the easter holiday weekend i’ve hardly been and i’ve been too drunk then too hungover to even lift my lift.

so i’m going to give the rest of it a mix and maybe just do a different photo challenge if i can find good ones online, ’cause i really don’t want to go the “picture of you and 10 facts” and “picture of your wallet”.

a picture a day… 3rd April

i’m so disappointing… three days in and i failed to take a

 picture. but!!! in my defence i have a great reason…

yesterday morning i woke up at deadly 7am.  i sleepwalked right into the bathroom and had to rewind back to look out the window. SNOW. freaking snow in april! in spring! i was less than impressed, considering that this time last week it was 18-20 degrees outside. is this global warming?

anyway, everytime a random snowfall fell our way i was working! i was very upset about this because i never got the chance but this was well an truly my “things you don’t do every day” and that “thing” was curse and moan and hate and DESPISE this Scottish weather.

LCSx

a picture a day… 2nd April

drizzy mother fuckin’ drake
club paradise tour 

there’s something i don’t go doing every day
one of the best artists i’ve ever seen live. he’s a friggin’ BABE

LCSx