Sekonda Watch: The Chanel J12 Replica

A few of you may have already seen the Chanel J12 watch, which seems to be very popular with both celebrities and us regular folk. I have no idea what the cost is but I know it would be a price I wouldn't be willing (or able!) to pay.

I saw this Sekonda watch from Argos (below) and thought it looked like a great replica of the Chanel J12. As you can see they're not too dissimilar. And best of all it only cost £19.99.

I had to have quite a few links taken out as the wrist band was huge. I always wish the shop would do this for free. It only takes a couple of minutes and it seems silly to pay for a watch and then have to pay extra because I need fewer links than they provide. But it's worth haggling, girls. The watch man in the market tried to charge me £10 to take the links out (how ridiculous!) but I said no and told him I'd pay £3, which he accepted, hoorah!

So I'm very happy with my watch bargain! There's always great replica's to be found so until I can afford designer prices I'll be buying these as an alternative.

Hair Dye: L'Oreal Excell 10

I've dabbled with quite a few hair dyes over the years. In my late teens I developed a penchant for purple hair (why?!), then I got into reds and auburn's. Now I've realised I prefer just being a basic brunette.

The problem I have with my hair is that with time and increased sun exposure, my hair turns a wishy-washy gingery colour. I've experimented with a few darker shades in the past and they made my hair appear black so I was cautious when trying to dye my hair just a couple of shade lighter. I've now found the perfect shade after years of searching. Introducing L'Oreals Excell 10 in Spiced Chocolate...

This shade transforms my hair colour from this...

to this...

The perfect brunette shade for me; a deep brown that still has red, blonde and copper tones when in the sunlight. The comb makes it quick and easy to apply, the whole process is done in a jiffy! Usually I get someone to help me dye my hair, but the comb makes it so simple I can do it myself. The deep conditioner that comes with the dye smells amazing and leaves my hair so incredibly soft, I've never felt anything like it! It's a good size too so there's enough product for an intensive treat for your hair every few washes. I also find that after dyeing my hair it feels thicker and looks more shiny, bonus!

Do you dye your hair yourself? What's your favourite brand?

MAC Florabundance Lipglass

I've always been a bit disappointed by lipglosses. Often you can find they look lovely in the tube but upon application they become generic and nondescript.

However, I'd heard good things about MAC's lipglosses so I bought Florabundance lipglass. I've never been so surprised and delighted by a lipgloss! It was creamy, highly pigmented and seemed to make my lips look plumper. Not anything like the glosses I've tried in the past where they appear to be pink then turn out clear and slide off within seconds.

It's such a pretty, girly colour; a soft peachy pink that looks amazing on its own or layered on top of a lipstick. It's suitably sticky, not too much but enough to stay around on the lips for a while.

It seems it's worth spending that little bit more on lipglosses to ensure they are good quality. I now carry this around with me all the time and I'm looking to buy some more MAC lipglosses.

Florabundance is priced at £12.00 and available in store or online

What are you recommendations?

Sleek Makeup: Bohemian i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette

I was lucky enough to get my hands on the latest Sleek MakeUP eyeshadow palette before it's release on the 17th March.

I'd heard amazing things about the Sleek MakeUP palettes but I've never tried them out myself so I was excited to finally see if they lived up to the hype.

The packaging this time round is white rather than the usual black. I can't help thinking this makes it look a little cheap and tacky. Black would be my preferred choice as it looks more professional.

Besides that, my initial thought was that I liked the colour selection. The majority looked like wearable shades. (I know I won't be touching the bright yellow and green!)

I was pleased to see some rustic colours; copper, bronze, burgundy. I think they really make blue and green eyes stand out (I can't speak for brown eyes!) The palette also features some basic neutral shades that act as a great base colour. Overall, I thought there was a good variety of shades and I like how there's a mixture of shimmer and matte.

(Not the best swatch)

Confirming what I'd read about the Sleek MakeUP palettes, these eyeshadows are highly pigmented and easy to work with. The shimmery shades are beautifully blendable, meaning you control the intensity of the colour. The shade can be kept vibrant and bold for when you want to make an impact on a night out or it can be blended into the crease to create a subtle twist on the everyday eye.

I can see why the Sleek MakeUP palettes have become so popular. They are good quality, have a great selection of colours and all at an amazingly low price. I'm a definite new fan!

The Bohemian palette is priced at £4.99 and will available in Superdrug stores for a limited time from Wednesday 17th March.

Are you a fan of Sleek's eyeshadow palettes?

Will you be buying this one?

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge - Powder Pink

I was delighted when around Christmas time I was offered the opportunity to try some Bobbi Brown products. Since discovering the beauty community, Bobbi Brown became a brand I was keen to try due to the numerous recommendations I'd heard, not only from beauty enthusiasts but also professional makeup artists. However, being a student at the time meant it was out of my reach financially.

As I was new to the Bobbi Brown brand I spent a lot of time reading reviews on Makeup Alley and asking around for recommendations. In the end I selected Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge, a product for both cheeks and lips that seemed to be very popular. The colour Powder Pink appealed to me most, a light pretty pink that looked like the perfect colour for the cheeks.

I found this was best applied with my Mac 187 brush, starting on the apple of the cheek and stippling out towards the hairline. Using this brush for application not only made it a breeze to blend but also created a flawless, professional finish. I did attempt using my fingers but I found the product a little too sticky to blend evenly.

Here it is in use...

The colour is lovely and gives a natural flush to the cheeks that lasts all day. I did also try it on my lips but I found the colour a little too dark compared to my preferred tones, although I can imagine it's a great product to have around when you don't want to lug around more than you need to. Overall I've been very impressed and now use this in my daily makeup routine.

Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouges are priced at £16.50 and available here or in your nearest store.

Have you tried the Pot Rouge's? What do you think of them?

NOTD: 17 Royal Rose

Here's another favourite nail polish of mine, 'Royal Rose' by 17...

A pretty candy pink with hints of lilac. I've been very impressed by 17's nail varnishes. They have a lovely array of colours for a very good price. The formulation is easy to work with and they dry incredibly fast. Not only that but they don't chip easily either,

17 Lasting Fix Nail Polish is priced at £2.99 for 8ml and available at Boots

Do you have any recommendations for other colours to try?

Revlon Fantasy Lashes

Back around Christmas time I was kindly sent a variety of Revlon false eyelashes to try. One pair in particular stood out for me and they're now my favourite false lashes.

Here are Revlon's Fantasy Lengths in 'Lush'

I think they look identical to these Shu Uemura eyelashes below which are priced at a steep £15.00...

I loved how the individual pieces gave me control over the thickness and volume of the lashes. Having individual pieces also eradicated the problem of needing to trim the lashes to fit each individuals eye size. I found I only needed to use 3 pieces on each eye to create a defined, pretty eye.

What I loved most was that these created a full, fluttery look that looked more natural than other false lashes I've tried. Often I find false eyelashes are just far too long and sparse. These were just a touch longer than my own lashes so the focus was on adding fullness. So I use these in the same way I do clip-in hair extensions, to add volume rather than length.

I've used these eyelashes around six times now and they're still as good as new. The glue holds well but is also easy to peel off after use.

Revlon Fantasy Lashes are available at Asda, Boots for around £5.99 but they're also available here, starting from just £2.45. However, I've been searching for this particular pair for a while now and can't seem to find them anywhere. So I'm desperately hanging on to these and hoping they last!

Which brand do you rely on to give the perfect eyelashes?

Favourite Foundations

I recently discovered I go through phases with foundations. I use one continuously, then spot another I loved a while back, remember how amazing it was and use that alone for the next few weeks. This cycle seems to continue but I've found myself rotating the the same four foundations.

Here are my favourites...

♥ Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

This is my go-to foundation when I want my makeup to be quick and fuss-free. I use this everyday for work as the mousse formulation is easy to work with which makes it really fast and easy to apply. I simply sweep it over my face with my fingers as I would a moisturiser.

It feels incredibly silky and the whipped mousse formulation blends beautifully. It’s creates a flawless base, leaving my skin feeling velvety soft. This foundation has a very matte finish (as the name suggests!) which does mean it will highlight any dry or flaky skin. Therefore I think this would work best on people with 'normal' skin.

♥ Barefaced Beauty Mineral Foundation

This was my first introduction to mineral foundation and I've loved it ever since. Again, this is so quick and easy to apply, I simply buff it in with a mini kabuki brush and within seconds my face is transformed. This gives a very natural finish, I can still see a few freckles peeping through which I like. With a weightless quality, it feels as though I'm not wearing any makeup, perfect for summer when I don't want to feel anything heavy or oily on my face.

♥ Revlon Colourstay

This foundation requires a little more work to look its best but the end results are worth it. I apply using the MAC 187 Brush for a flawless finish. With a thick consistency, you need to work fairly quickly otherwise it can become difficult to blend. Giving full coverage, I use this for long lasting results for long days and nights out. Out of the four I'd say this foundation gives the most professional and airbrushed look.

♥ Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid

With a handy pump for controlled dispensing (Revlon, take note!) Maybelline's Dream Satin Liquid gives a beautiful glow to the skin and leaves a dewy, flawless finish. I use this on the weekends to give medium coverage with a natural radiance.

I've yet to try a higher end brand like MAC or NARS when it comes to foundations as I haven't felt the need to look elsewhere but I'd be interested to try some out.

What are your favourite foundations?

Any recommendations for my first high end foundation?