Do It Yourself - Highlighter!

I've been fascinated with DIY beauty products ever since I started browsing the blogesphere - it's fun being directly involved in the making of something you want to use, and usually the finished product is alot less costly than if you were buying a ready-made product from a brand.

After reading up on bloggers that use eyeshadow directly onto their cheekbones for a highlight, I decided to elaborate and give making my own a try:

You Need:

• Facial Lotion
• A small container
• Pearl/sparkly eyeshadow
• A spoon
• A primer (Not pictured)

Just three ingredients make up a super shimmery highlighter, however the primer is used to elongate the highlighter but I did not have a suitable one with me to use in this demonstration (I had attempted to use Benefit's POREfessional but the consistency wasn't compatable with the lotion), so be sure to use a liquid primer, not one with a thicker paste-like texture. I bought the small container in a pack of five for £2 and the lotion was less than £2 also. The most expensive products will be the primer and eyeshadow, but there are inexpensive brands if you need to buy a new shade, or you can use the last few bits of an old one. With the primer, you only need a tiny amount so you if you need to purchase some especially, you can just use it as a great new addition to your makeup kit after adding it into the highlighter!

Squirt some of the lotion into the small container, as you can see i've filled about 1/3 of the pot. However, you can really use however much you'd like, just ensure you have enough shadow to even it out. This would then be followed by a small squirt of your chosen primer and use the spoon (Or the spoon handle depending on the size of your pot!) to mix together thoroughly.

Using the back of the spoon, carefully mash the eyeshadow and tip the desired amount into the pot with the lotion and primer. Then mix. And I mean REALLY mix. I found that the eyeshadow tended to solidify and form small clumps within the mixture if it wasn't mixed quickly and vigorously.

As you can see, because of the chosen eyeshadow colour the finished product doesn't look a lot different than the lotion pictured at the beginning,  but there is a slight shine. I have included the half-used palette to show how much shadow I actually used - but it's really a case of adding more and mixing until you've found the right amount for you.

I applied it quite thick for you to visibly see the finished product, and as you can see it gives a light pearl shimmer that looks gorgeous when it catches the light. I have used it since and i've found it to be a great alternative for expensive products such as Benefit's 'High Beam', which comes with a hefty £18.50 price tag! It's great for people who enjoy experimenting and creating to find cheaper alternatives to high end products. The primer will ensure that the product is long lasting, and the facial lotion ensures that it doesn't dry out your skin.

The compact container means its easy to pop into my bag if I want to top up my glow, and overall i'm so happy with the way it turned out and how it effectively highlights my cheekbones and is a great addition to my everyday make-up routine!


Be sure to vote for Sophie Says for the NEXT Newcomer Blog Award at this years Cosmopolitan Blog Awards HERE!

April Obsession - Studs and Spikes!

Hello all!
If you've been following my blog you would know that I recently went on holiday to Turkey (pictures will be uploaded soon!), and was completely taken back by the over-eagerness and desperation of the sales assistants in their shops, so much so that I couldn't bring myself to go into any shops and have a good browse. Therefore, practically as soon as I touched down on British soil I was out undergoing some much anticipated retail therapy, and I noticed there was only one thing that was catching my eye.

This season, studs are everywhere. On rings, collars of shirts, shoulders of jackets, dotted on ballet slippers. Directly contrasting to the ever-popular pastel trend, a few studs are essential in adding an edgy twist to any outfit. Here are my purchases:

VECTRA3 Studded Slippers - £28, Topshop. Image courtesy of topshop.com

 These could not be more perfect if they tried. Slippers are in right now, and the studs toughen up the soft material (polyurathene, apparently?). They also come in a nude with gold studs, which goes back to a new take on feminine pastels. So comfortable and versatile, these will be my go-to shoes from now on.

Printed shirt with studded collar - £29.99, Zara. Image courtesy of zara.com

This shirt is part of Zara's newest collection, and I have to say it's the cutest shirt i've ever purchased. The owl print keeps the shirt feminine whilst the high collar and gold studs add a straight-edge, making it a perfect accompaniment to a blazer or pair of high-waisted shorts. I wore it today with a pair of black skinny jeans and a blazer, and it reminded me of the style of Caroline Flack. Absolutely gorgeous and such a bargain price! 

But it's not just the clothing that's had the studded treatment: 

1. Black studded bra top - £28, Miss Selfridge

2. Spike end slides - £7.99, Topshop

3. Studded Peter Pan collar - £30, Topshop

Images courtesy of Miss Selfridge and Topshop

I love the embellishments, they really liven up something as simple as a black bra-top. I especially love the hair slides in the gorgeous candy colours. However, when you wear studs just be careful about how far you go with it, keep it simple and avoid studded black collars - you'll look like you're either wearing a dog collar or part of a bondage outfit! 

If you want the studded look without the price-tag, DIY studding is easy. You can buy packets of studs from most textile and sewing shops, and use them to line denim jackets or jean pockets - get creative with it!

 

DIY: Tinted Lip Balm!

After reading an article in Company magazine by craft guru Jazz Domino Holly about making your own lip balms and butters, I just had to try it out myself. I love the idea that you can create a lip product that is completely customised to your taste, with a little bit of professional lip product thrown in by using a bit of lipstick.
This is a really easy and fun way of turning your old lipsticks into gorgeous lip balm.

So here's what you need:

• Vaseline
• An essential oil of your choice
• An old lipstick
• A small pot or container for storage
• A microwavable dish 

I decided that I wanted to use my Nude Pink (Shade 206) lipstick from Rimmel, partly because I didn't like the finish on my lips but loved the colour, but mostly because it was the least expensive lipstick I own (Cost approx. £3!) and I didn't particularly want to hack into any of my Dior Addict shades.

So, here's how I made my own tinted lip balm:

1) Scoop up some Vaseline using a tablespoon and put it into the microwavable dish. You might want another spoon or cocktail stick at the ready for this, as it's pretty tricky to get off of the spoon!
 

2) Cut off an inch of the lipstick and blend it into the Vaseline using the back of the spoon. This is the amount that was given in the magazine, but to be honest I think it's far too much. Yes it does produce a gorgeous colour but it said use at least an inch, and realistically if the lipstick is old it's not going to have over an inch left? The lipstick i'd used i'd only worn once or twice, and I could barely salvage an inch. So really, just use as much as you can!

(This picture is really poor quality and the colour looks really coral, but it's actually a combination of coral and pink!)

3) Mix in one or two drops of your chosen essential oil in with the mix. Don't use any more because essential oils have a really strong scent. I chose lavender because it's really soothing, and I could do with any attempt to relax!

4) Put in the microwave on the highest setting for 30 seconds. Stir (make sure you have your second spoon or cocktail stick at the ready!) and then microwave again at 30 second intervals until the mixture has liquified - not boiled. I found that I needed about another two minutes in total to liquify the mixture, but it depends on your oven (I used an 800w), and even then the mixture wasn't completely liquid but I didn't want to risk it starting to boil.

5. Pour the mixture into your small container and leave it in the freezer for 20 minutes. Voila! You've made your very own tinted lip balm! Here's how mine turned out:

Because it wasn't entirely liquified when I poured it in, it didn't set smoothly but i'm really happy with it! As soon as you open the lid they're a subtle hint of lavender that's instantly relaxing, and the colour definitely looks better as a balm than it did as a lipstick! The one I chose had a slight shine so it's got quite a glossy look to it.

As you can see the colour isn't too overwhelming, but will add a hint of peachy pink to your lips. The Vaseline is hydrating and moisturising, and the lavender really comforts chapped lips.

Overall, this was an absolute success. I had so much fun mashing up my lipstick and blending everything together, and it's just so simple!
 If you're a fan of glitter, you can add a few sprinkles of edible glitter into the mix. Or if you're a chocaholic like me, try adding a few chocolate drops and a drizzle of honey instead of the oil?
I can't wait to start experimenting with different oils, colours and flavours.

Let me know what you think.. have you tried it? What ingredients would you use?

Organising Your Nail Polish

After adding five new polishes to my collection (I am in the process of reviewing, honest!) I came to the conclusion that it was taking me too long to pick a colour because it's impossible to tell which one is which by just looking at the lids whilst they're in the box. So I decided to try something really quick and easy to organise my polishes better.

I cut paper up into small squares (Lined paper was easier because I don't have a good eye for straight edges!) and put a small dot of polish onto it, and left it to dry. After a few hours, I went back and sellotaped it onto the top of the bottle. It really doesn't take long to do, but obviously it is quite fiddly if you're a bit clumsy like me! But now, I can easily find my perfect nail polish by simply looking at the dots on the tops of the bottles. Nice and simple :)

DIY: Leopard print nails!

After looking at nail art designs on various other blogs (Such as chyaz) I came across a very easy leopard print pattern that seemed so fail-safe that even someone with a shaky hand like me could give it a try. So here's how it went:
I did my younger sisters in the traditional leopard print colours, and then experimented with bright blue and white and I absolutely love how it turned out :) All you need is two colours and a black liquid eyeliner - genius! Was thinking of doing a video tutorial or something, but depends what peoples thoughts are. Do you like them?