Just a quick update...
Had my hair chopped off yesterday :)! It doesn't look that much different overall, but a lot shorter, just below my shoulders, i'll take pics soon! I was a wimp & didn't go for the graduated bob!

Went to London today and I managed to cut open my finger in MAC Pro haha me being clumsy! I picked up Indian Ink, Bottle Green, and All That Glitters eyeshadows and Plum Foolery blusher. Also... Last week I bought a new studio fix powder (MAC), and I had used the powder in ages and I remember NW20 being quite dark, well, not overly dark, so I decided to go for NW15, and I'm really regretting it! Its SO light on me, and I was whinging to my mum that I hated it because I'd wasted my money, so she very kindly bought me a new foundation, which is the Custom Creations foundation by Revlon. It matches my skin so well! I'll post a review of it soon, with a FOTD with my new eyeshadows :). Also picked up a new make up bag as mine was getting a bit grubby!

Anyway, I'm pooped, and I've gotta be up for work in the morning, so I'll post more on Sunday.

Caroline
xo

Beauty Basics

Ok I'm actually not that tired!!
I just posted in the 'Basic Must Have MAC' thread on Specktra (http://specktra.net/f256/basic-must-have-mac-85804/) and it inspired me to make my own list of my personal favourites, not just make up! I'll do skin care, hair, beauty tools, hair removal creams etc. It won't all be high end, I don't just use high end beauty products!! Eventually I will do an explanation for everything but will have to update that as I go along. If you want to know more about a certain product just comment and ask and I will reply.
Please remember this is what suits me best and what I like best so it might not suit everybody! I'll probably forget lots so I might have to keep editing it. Anyway, enjoy :)

MAKE UP
Check out this brilliant website by Kevin James Bennett, he's a top make up artist and created this website called 'In My Kit' to give you an idea on his favourites. If you're wondering why there is no MAC in there, its because hes pretty anti-MAC but I won't go into that! http://inmykit.com/!

Primer
MAC Prep & Prime Skin- To be honest, I'm not the best person to ask about primers... I've only ever tried two, which is this one, and MAC Prep & Prime Face, which I hated!
Revlon Skinlights - Not really a primer as such, some use it as a foundation (my mum for example). Its an illuminator which you apply before foundation or alone, or dot and blend after foundation for that glowy look. However I believe it is now discontinued :(. It comes in five shades which according to KJ Bennett soften flaws, brightens skin, and boosts overall radiance. And he's right! I love this stuff.

Eye Shadow Primer
Urban Decay Primer Potion - This stuff is a GOD SEND! Minus the crappy packaging, if you want no creases, no budging, no moving whatsoever, this is your answer. Your eyeshadow will last from the minute you put it on until the minute you take it off. I've heard some people complain that it makes their eyeshadows harder to blend or makes their eyelids dry out, but I personally have had no problems with this little angel!!

MAC Painterly Paint Pot - This isn't neccessarily a primer, but is a good alternative if you cannot get hold of UDPP (Urban Decay Primer Potion). For me its almost identical to my skin tone (MAC NM15/NM20 for reference) which makes it brilliant as if I'm just going for my lazy look which consists of foundation, blush, concealer, mascara and blacktrack fluidline, its brilliant for evening out my skin tone on my horrible dark eyelids! I find it keeps eyeshadows on as well and is great for bringing out the vibrancy in eyeshadows. Most of the time I use UDPP & Painterly together for that extra guarentee that A) My eyeshadow looks the colour it should be and B) It'll stay on all day!!

Too Faced Shadow Insurance - I haven't bought this yet, but I will do soon. I've heard some great reviews on it, infact, in polls a lot of people have said they prefer it. I've looked at it however, and I can see why some prefer it. For a start, its a squeezy tube! Much better than UD's apparently 'straight' bottle. Also I believe its more liquid like (don't count me on that!), whereas UDPP is a cream, and some have claimed it makes eyeshadow blending much easier. I promise to buy this soon and review it!!

Foundation
MAC Studio Fix Fluid
MAC Studio Fix Powder+
MAC Select Spf
Revlon Colour Stay Foundation

Concealer
MAC Studio Finish Concealer
Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat
Boots No7 Instant Radiance Concealer
Make Up Forever Pro Concealing Cream Palettes

Powder
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural

Blusher
MAC - Sunbasque, Mocha, Strada, Peachykeen, Dame, Cantaloupe (PRO)
NARS - Orgasm
NYX - Desert Rose, Raisin

Eyeliner
Liquid - Rimmel Exaggerate Liquid Liner
Gel - MAC Fluidline
Pencil/Kohl - Rimmel Soft Kohl, MAC Kohl Power (LE), MAC Eye Kohl, GOSH Velvet Touch

Eyeshadows
I have various favourite eyeshadows, all from different brands! Ultimately of course my favourite is MAC. I have various favourite colours but my top five I'd choose are probably Carbon, Embark, Satin Taupe, Patina, and Soft Brown. Other favourites include Amber Lights, Sprout (DC), Sable, and many more. Other favourite eyeshadow brands include Urban Decay, NYX, NARS, Inglot, GOSH, Make Up Forever, Benefit and many more. Of course I can't forget MAC pigments. These aren't just eyeshadows, they have a number of different uses, but I generally only use them on my eyes, eye safe or not! Naughty I know hehe.

Eyebrows
Urban Decay Brow Box
Benefit Brow Zings
Benefit High Brow
MAC Brow Shaders

Mascara
Christian Dior - Diorshow Blackout Mascara
Rimmel - Magnif'eyes Mascara
Givenchy - Phenom'eyes

Lips
MAC Lipsticks
NARS Lipsticks
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks
Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick
MAC Lustreglasses
MAC Dazzleglasses

Other
MAC Cream Colour Bases
NARS Multiples
Benefit Dr Feelgood
Urban Decay eyeshadow palettes
MAC Brushes (187, 217, 219, 239)
MAC Sculpting Powder
MAC Brush Cleanser
Benefit High Beam
Temptu Air Brush Cosmetics
Carmex Lip Balm

SKIN CARE
Right, I know it sounds bad, but I'm not huge on skin care. By that I don't mean I'm a dirty cow who doesn't wash haha I mean that I've never bought anything expensive for my skin. Well, say over the £20 mark. Probably even over the £10 mark! I mainly use drugstore brands, purely because I don't have any major skin issues other than its oily. I very very rarely get spots, I get a lot of blackheads, but they go eventually. I know I should invest in some good skincare but right now, I don't feel the need. My skin is fine (kinda!). I'm not saying its perfect, infact it isn't at all really, my skin is quite blotchy but I naturally blush a lot, its not due to break outs etc, its just the way my skin has always been. I use SPF everyday and never ever sit in the sun/use tan beds - this baby burns! Ironic that my surname is Byrnes (pronounced Burns) lol. I sound like my skin is 100% perfect/up my own arse, i'm not!! So yeah, I'll just a few of my skin care items. This includes body skin care too.

Johnsons Baby Wipes
Origins No Puffery Cooling Eye Gel
Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser
Garnier Cream Cleanser (don't know exact name)
Nivea Toner (don't know exact name)
The Body Shop Pore Minimising Serum
Nivea Control Shine Moisturiser
Lush Herbalism Facial Scrub
St Ives Facial Scrub
Philosophy The Microdelivery Mini Peel Pads
Palmers Cocoa Butter Formula
Carmex Lip Balm
Boots Botanicals Nourishing Body Butter
The Body Shop Body Butters
Dove Moisturising Creme
Nivea Creme
Bio-Oil
Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment Cream
Neutrogena Visibly Clear Daily Cleansing Cushions

Related Skin Care
Mitchum Roll On Deoderant
Nivea Pearl Beauty Deoderant
Sure for Women Deoderant
Veet Hair Removal Cream
Veet Wax Strips
Vasogen Nappy Rash Cream (the ULTIMATE cream for shaving rash!!! It'll be gone within 12 hours!)

BATH TIME!
Theres nothing I love more than a refreshing shower or a relaxing bath, and everyone loves to smell amazing and feel super super clean! Theres nothing like that 'just out the bath' feeling. Heres a few of my favourite bath time things such as shower gels, scrubs, facial washes, bubble baths and so forth. They're not in any particular order.

Lush Honey I Washed The Kids Soap
Lush Herbalism Facial Scrub
Lush Aqua Marina Scrub
Lush Almond Butter (I think its that!)
Palmolive Tahiti Shower Gels (unfortunately not available in the UK, only in France I think, they smell AMAZING!)
St Ives 'Swiss Vanilla' Moisturising Body Wash
Imperial Leather Skin Cocoon Shower Gel
St Ives Apricot Scrub
I can't remember its name but a Dove Moisturising Body Wash
Lynx Shower Gel - I like to smell like my boyfriend sometimes okay? haha.
Soap & Glory - The Scrub Of Your Life
Theres so much more but its my parents bathroom so I'll check in the morning!!

HAIR CARE

I work in a hairdressers so I have enough hair products to sink a ship! Heres a few of my favourites...

Paul Mitchell Shampoo Two
Paul Mitchell Instant Moisture Shampoo
Paul Mitchell Colour Protect Shampoo
Paul Mitchell Instant Moisture Daily Treatment
Paul Mitchell Hair Repair Treatment
I'm gonna abbreviate Paul Mitchell to PM now :P...
PM Heat Seal
PM Worked Up
PM Extra Body Boost
PM Super Skinny Smoothing Serum
PM Extra Body Finish Spray
PM Foaming Pommade
PM Spray Wax
PM Relaxing Balm
PM Thicken Up
GHD Iron Oil
Herbal Essences Shampoo
Alterna Straightening Balm
Alterna Repair Shampoo's and conditioners
Alterna Caviar Treatment
Alterna Caviar Rapid Repair Shine Spray
Alterna Split End Reconstructor
Alterna Styling Souffle
Batiste Dry Shampoo
Alterna Hemp Shine Spray
Alterna Sheer Pommade
Shockwaves Styling Hairspray
PM Freeze and Shine Super Spray

OTHER

Venus Razors - the breeze blades are so easy to use!
Nivea For Men Shaving Foam - much prefer mens shaving foam to ladies!

Argh! That took me forever! Theres so much more too! I'm gonna gradually add explanations to each product but right now theres so many and just writing them all has taken me about an hour!
Anyway, I hope that helps someone somehow, and have a cookie for reading it, its so long! Remember I don't use all those products at once hah!

Caroline xo

RIGHT I'm actually going to update this thing regularly now! I went back to uni at the very end of last month and even though I'm only in a couple of days of week I've been a busy bunny with work n all that.
I don't have much to say really... other than LOOK AT THESE BABIES!!!!

My word. I love these. They look B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. I heard a rumour they were going to be a completely different colour for the christmas gift set, and they truly are! Its the GHD Christmas gift set, which includes a purple gloss finish medium straightener with a paisley pattern, a mini hairdryer, two clips, and a beautiful roll bag and heat proof mat. I'm not entirely sure on the price, but judging by previous Christmas gift sets it'll be around £135/140. I'm going to be hogging them at work! If they have the same finish as the Dark/Pure straighteners from a few months back, they will be as smoooooth as can be.

I don't have many reviews at the moment... I'll be doing a review of Origins No Puffery Cooling Eye Gel and The Body Shops Pore Minimiser. Both products so far have been fabulous so I'll do a full review of them soon :)

Eventually I will be doing tutorials.... whether its video or pictures I don't know yet. With the video side, I hate the sound of my own voice and I'll get real nervous, and with pictures, I don't think I have the patience to take a million photos of what I'm doing! So I'll see. I deffo want to do a tutorial on how I line my eyes as I get a lot of compliments on that.

Tomorrow I might be getting my hair chopped off. Infact, I am going to, I just decided haha. What I'll have exactly I don't know, it won't be shorter than my shoulders though. Pictures to come! Possibly not until Friday though as I'm going to see Foals tomorrow night then I'm going to London with the Mothership on Friday shopping (Yay MAC Pro!!!) so I might not get a chance until then :)

Anyway, I'm out, I'm sleepy!
Ciao
xo