Baby Mine

 




sweatshirt: ASOS
jeans: Topshop via WeLikeShopping*
necklace: ASOS (similar here)
watch: Juicy Couture*
trainers: Liberty x Nike*
nails: Essie Fiji
I have a lot of casual footwear considering I don't really wear it a lot. I rediscovered these beautiful babies in the depths of my wardrobe a little while ago and have made a pact to give them the love they deserve!

The only way I can justify dressing down is by dressing it up at the same time in the form of jewellery. I tend to wear gold rather than silver so this could possibly end up being more chav than chic; but I feel comfortable enough in it so I guess that's all that matters! I love this sweater so much - the inside is fluffy and soft and keeps me really warm. For size reference I bought a 16, as I wanted it pretty oversized and longer than I imagined my normal size would be.

My jeans are the Leigh ones from Topshop, I've got a couple of pairs now and I think they're perfect. I plumped for the petite version and they're just the right length for me which is a rare to inconceivable event! They're skin tight and thin yet soft and comfortable at the same time?! If that's not a pair of perfect jeans then I don't know what is!

I went to see Django Unchained yesterday and enjoyed it just as much as I thought I would. Have you seen it yet?

Topshop Secret Admirer Lipstick

Topshop Lipstick in Secret Admirer: £8
Another member of the Topshop lip family that has been in my collection for a good while but I never got around to talking about. Secret Admirer caught my eye due to its 'warm nude' description and general peachy pink appearance in the bullet. Upon application though, for some reason this lipstick ends up looking more like a blue based pink instead of the warm tone you'd expect. It's still nice, just a little disappointing when a product isn't quite true to colour. I don't know if it's because my lips are quite pigmented, not that I think that would make the product less warm toned?! Weird! For best results it's good to prep your lips to ensure they're smooth, but Secret Admirer is creamy enough to not cling to any dry patches and leaves a healthy sheen so it's not all so bad. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong..?

Are you a not so secret admirer of this lipstick? Let me know your favourite shade from the range if you have one!

Essie Fiji

Essie nail polish in Fiji: £7.99
Say hello to my new favourite nail polish (and I have a lot, so that must mean something.. right?!) - possibly as beautiful on the nails as its namesake is in the flesh. A milky baby pastel pink that looks almost white on the nails, and opaque in two coats. I really didn't think that would happen since I have to paint three layers of one of my most used shades, Ballet Slippers, and even then you can still see my white tips through it.

Suffice to say I'm over the moon with this as it's an easy peasy way to wear a pale pink - no streaks here! I'm looking forward to experimenting with different glitters over this but for now I'm really enjoying wearing it on its own. Wear time is never something I like to comment on as I believe it depends on your personal preference of base coats, top coats, nail care and daily activities, but Essie polishes always perform really well for me and go for days on end without a single chip. A valid excuse for my sizeable collection, which seems to be growing at an alarming rate..

Are you an Essie fan? What's your preferred high street brand for nail polish and why?

NARS Isolde Duo Eyeshadow

NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Isolde: £23.50
I was in a spot of bother when I was looking at the NARS Duo Eyeshadows trying to pick just one and it was impossible. In my usual fashion I surrendered to the delights of Alhambra as well as this beauty, Isolde.

The two shades in this duo are described as a "frosted ginger and shimmering copper" which immediately got my attention upon reading. I always get drawn towards these kinds of hues as they're so flattering with my eye colour - orange and yellow tones sit on the opposite side of the colour wheel, so complement blue really well.

As with the other duo, these shadows are as soft as butter, effortless to blend and a real joy to use. My modus operandi consists of using the lighter colour all across the eyelid, then applying the darker shade towards the outer corners and in the crease before blending it all together into a fade effect. I use a little of the lighter side again just along my lower lash line to bring it all together. I do use a primer (mine's Urban Decay Primer Potion in Sin - review here), but I don't think it could possibly make these shadows brighter as they're so vivid on their own. Saying that though, you can use them wet which is supposed to intensify the shades but I really don't feel the need to do that.

I love love love this duo and would definitely recommend it if. I'd say these would look amazing no matter what eye colour you have, but especially if you're blue/green-eyed. Excuse the pun, but.. I feel I've truly hit the goldmine.

Have you tried any NARS shadows? I'm close to obsessed and would love to hear any recommendations you may have!

You Can Sin Or Spend The Night All Alone

  
  
  
  
Follow me on Instagram: @milkteef
Moi, YO! Sushi madness, obligatory Starbs for the tube ride home, new Bourjois lipsticks - full post soon, ooooooops, organising the makeup mountain, best tee everrrr, RIP Laguna, zzz, baby roos & Daisy's first birthday (cc Hayley)!

Très Rouge

 




playsuit: Motel*
heels: Topshop
nails: Primark
HI GUAISE IT'S ME! My last outfit post was in early November so I thought it was about time I tried doing one before January was through. I now have white walls so it'll be a lot easier (hopefully - time will tell!) to work with what little daylight we're getting at the moment as well as the background not clashing with my clothes! Anyway, boringness aside.. this lovely bright red playsuit arrived at my doorstep the other day and I can't wait for a chance to wear it beyond the realms of my bedroom. Definitely need to find myself a safety pin before I go out in it though - whoops!

The shoes you can't really see properly so I'll try to take another photo soon and replace this one. They're probably my favourite pair of heels ever which is no mean feat seeing as I have 643093 pairs (approx.); and they took a lot of tracking down so it's only right that I love them so much. Leather and suede, bows and a super high heel.. aahhh.

I'll try to keep these kinds of posts regular - maybe two a week? Let me know what sort of thing you like to see/read best on here, I'd love to know! This feels like it's been the most self-indulgent post of all time so I think I'll leave it there. Also I'll be posting about my nails soon - can't quite get used to doing normal stuff wearing them though!

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen

Pixi Endless Silky Eye Pen: £9.50*
Since being so impressed with their Lash Line Ink, I was keen to see how the Endless Silky Eye Pen compared despite the fact that pencil liners aren't usually my thing. I swatched one at a Pixi event a couple of months ago and was immediately impressed with the result on the back of my hand - so was excited to try it out properly. As I said, I'm not a massive fan of using pencil liners but this is just gorgeous. Aptly named silky, it's super black, is surprisingly long-wearing for a pencil and is easy to remove. I apply straight from the pencil after I've finished the rest of my eye makeup, and blend it in with an angled brow brush to get the shape totally perfect and for a slightly smoky effect.

I'm not sure if I like the pen or pencil version from Pixi to be honest, perhaps it could be said that pencils generally last a lot longer than pens which can be prone to drying out (although mine hasn't), so that could be the overall winner. I would say they're both worth a try though, as I genuinely love both versions so much!

Have you tried the Endless Silky Eye Pen or the Lash Line Ink? What's your favourite format for liners?

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Benefit They're Real Mascara: £18.50*
They're Real is something I really didn't want to give into the hype about. The ridiculous amount of buzz about it was off putting for me and just made me feel like it wouldn't work - how's that for reverse psychology?! Even when my friend Hayley - a bonafide BeneBabe - recommended it to me I wasn't having any of it. I first received a sample sized version in my goody bag from the Cosmo Ultimate Women Of The Year 2012 Awards and since then I'm a total convert!

At first, the main concern I had with the mascara as to why it wouldn't work for me, comes down to the brush. I don't normally get on with plastic bristles and tend to favour softer ones, but this wand really seems to know what it's doing! A few strokes gives my lashes intense lift, volume and curl without clumping and the finish is very black, which is just what I like. I find with the formula that you can apply more than one coat, but once it's dry it can be difficult to build up so act quickly. It's long-wearing but at the same time is pretty easy to remove, so all in all I'm very happy to repurchase and recommend this - sometimes products really are worth their hype! Have you tried They're Real?

NARS Madly Blush

NARS Madly blush: £21*
Described as a shell pink, Madly has been one of the extensive NARS blush family that I've had my eye on for a while. I was quite surprised upon application that this seems a lot more peachy - I'd even go as far as orange - on me than I expected, but I do like it. I find that I can use in place of both a blush and a bronzer as it has the right tones from both products for me. It looks quite matte in the pan, but has a slight shimmer that translates onto the cheeks with a beautiful, soft sheen so the finish isn't at all powdery. Madly is a great every day colour that I've been reaching for without fail since its arrival, and I'd recommend but definitely suggest a good swatch/application at your local NARS counter if you're cool toned as it might be a tad too orange for you. A wearable blushed tan effect. Just.. peachy.

What are your thoughts on this one? Are you mad for Madly or do you have another favourite NARS blush?