Wednesday 26th October '11

Went shopping with the BFF today in Birmingham, and got all my new makeup etc, and alsooooo a new ring, hairband and earrings! The BFF isn't too keen on the earrings, but i think it's my inner moose addict coming through. I love the whole old style mounted moose heads, and these earrings just called out to me. They're from Claire's , and i don't normally like Claire's, but i got all three accessories for £5.50, so it can't be going far wrong! If you're wondering, the blonde girl in my review pictures today is my gorgeous cousin Jess, who gave me a helping hand. I'm not the biggest Clothes shopping fan, because i spend most of my time in my school uniform atm, but c'est la vie! Ciaou! 

MUA Trio Eyeshadow in Chocolate Box

I had my reservations about a £2.50 eye shadow palette, but woah! 

I especially like the pinkish one- very very similar to the one in the metallic Urban Decay Palette. I don't really see the whole relevance of calling the mix of colours Chocolate Box- but i like them together. However, the eyeshadow pads // brush provided is quite lacklustre, so i'll definitely be using my own! 

GOSH Natural Blush - 39 Electric Pink

YAYAY! This packaging is right up my street! The pink itself is quite bright, but peachy and girly on application. It's a bit pricey, but at £7 its in my opinion, MUCHHHH better than Benefit's sugarbomb blusher. I've needed a new blush for a while (my previous one being Urban Decay quickie - a bit too orange-red in my opinion!) and this is just what i needed! 

NYC Natural Matte Foundation

Ok, so normally, i'm a foundation snob (kinda like my other one is a Ferrari, my other main one is a Nars), and i like smart looking foundation, yknow, black matte packaging, but with this, the colour won me over. I find my foundations either too pale or to orangey // yellow for my skin colour, so i had a look and just...wowwwwwww! I got it in the palest i could (001 Ivory) , and it's not at all oily, and gives really good coverage. I don't rave about beauty products, but this liquid foundation is definitely high up on my list. It smells quite like moisturiser and only takes a teensy bit for most of the face.

Only issue i've got is that the packaging is a little unhygenic in that its a squeezy top as opposed to the nozzle top, but my Nars one doesn't even have a top bit, so this is definitely a step forward! 

Creampuff Lipgloss - Collection 2000

I'm super excited because i bought Collection 2000's creampuff lipgloss in Fairy cake this morning. I was originally going to go for the really nude-ish pale one, but it looked kind of different in the shop to online, so i got the creamy // coral-ly one instead. 
Must say, it smells a teensy bit sweet and vanilla-y, but it fits with the whole theme of cutesy packaging. 
However, it's not too sweet-smelling when on, and i'm learning to like the coral colour with my pale-ish skin...ok, so, i have a sliiiiight issue. On me, this colour, at first, looked a little too...middle-age. Like i was hitting 60 and grasping at the straws of my youth..but that's because, i don't tend to wear coral colour alot. (by the way, no disrespect towards you lovely ladies who of a wiser nature than i..it's just, i like looking dewy and fresh, and this product does not do that on me! Does it do that for anyone else?!)
. I tend to be a little wary of  of lip glosses as they tend to be to wet looking and plastic-y but this feels really natural and it's more matte than anything. Only downside is that it fades after a while (a few hours use, with no kissing!) and it transfers quite quickly. 
I don't wear lipglosses a lot, and i'm not going to religiously apply it every morning, buut i'll definitely keep it on hand just in case i ever feel the need to coraliseeeeeeee! 
And for £2.99, not quite a make up staple, but i'd definitely repurchase! 

Tricky or Treat?

Halloween fashion. Yay, or nay? If you answer nay, BOO YOU. i love halloween! Not mean girls style halloween where its considered an excuse to "wear lingerie and some sort of animal ears",  i love the black, lacy dresses, and tackily OTT make-up. 

I'm going on the costume hunt tomorrow with my amanuensis (well, not quite amanuensis as BFF) (btw sorry for saying amanuensis, it's part of one of my line's in the school production of Drrrracula this year and well, i'm trying to learn my lines) i thought i'd give some of my suggestions, all time favourites and all-time..well, just don't go there! 

Teen-dom is the turning point in halloween costumes- no more full on clown overalls, or skeleton costumes. However, i like my dignity- and have decided, this year at least, to not go overly sexualised // cheap. 

For the party on Saturday, I'm considering going as Little Red Riding Hood (after Amanda Seyfreid's amaaaaazing portrayal of her in the film released this year!), with vamped up red lipstick and heavy eyeliner...more Little Red Riding Hood meets old style glamour meets toussled wavy hair. Either that or a doll. Not like a dolled up teenager on the pull (ew?), but an actual, pale face, mouse lipsticked and every-hair-in-perfect-place doll. With a frilly skirt and white socks and shiny patent shoes. And lots of blusher. I like this idea because, as well as being in keeping with the whole girly girly yet creepy effect, I get to smile serenely and widen my eyes at people, whereas, in RRH costume, i'd either look drugged or slightly (or very) odd. 

So i'm caught between the two.. I'll let you know my decision tomorrow!

For this after-schoolio party on Monday (actual Halloween night), i got an email from my friend Ebbz asking me to go as a Zombie School Girl with her. AMEN TO THAT! I'm think plaits, white shirt, nerd glasses, knee high socks and school shoes. Can't say no to a low-budget, high-effect costume. And it's more fun when you have a counter part, right? We aren't going to wear the exact same thing, that'd be weird, but the concept will seem much more...interesting and popular with two of us going as it! 

ps, i was trying to convince Ebbz to go as a horse with me. Or a unicorn. How could she say no?!

New haircut!

Ok, i know i had my heart set on Ombre..but i got overexcited and had this done:D :D :D 

I, personally, LOVE it. I feel like Sasha off Hollyoaks, from ages ago, before she died or something.














only kidding, but i found this halloween wig, and thought i'd have some fun. 
So, bit of a change of plan today- came to Birmingham (YAY!) and found Em, so i was immediately much happier. We made choc-chip cookies, and i went a smidge mad with the red food coloring but NO FEAR, they look great! 
Anyway, this means shopping is moved to wednesday (yeahhhh man!) and i am going to be one very happy blogger! I'll keep you posted! 
Luciana- ciaou! 

Don't let fashion detract from you..

Fashion is a reflection of you. Don't let it hide who you are, and don't let makeup be a mask. If you're unhappy, just roll with it.


Sometimes we all just need to sit in our unhappy little rut and cry. 

That Skinny Issue..

It seems each blogger has their own opinion of the issue of weight/shape in relation to fashion. Personally, i love being skinny. This may be psycologically because fashion images have filtered down into the overall message being be skinny and be high fashion, but i am happy being skinny. Skinny is a relatively loose term- i'm happy with my body shape, and being thin makes me happy. However, it comes quite easily to me, i find healthy people are much happier and more attractive, so, this is my condensed (if not, slightly cut-short) view on That Skinny Issue:
If someone is comfortable with who they are, it should not be based upon weight. But let's face it-it's something people strive for. Don't, eat gorgeous food and wear gorgeous clothes. Fashion isn't about being skinny, it's about feeling beautiful. 
The End. 

Sunday 23rd October '11

Howdy! Well, today i'm getting my head down and doing revising butttt i've got many things to look forward to over the next few days...so i thought, in order to perk myself up, i'd share with you wonderful people my plans for the rest of the half-term (1/2t)..;
Monday
As I am currently in the Shire (just not telling which one!), i'm roughly 20 miles away from decent shopping locations, but we're going to a nearby city/town thing with a rather mediocre, but it-shall-do shopping centre! I'm intending to get my eyebrows done while we're there-and i do believe i'm getting them threaded- beauty procedure review numero 1! yay! I also have a dentist appointment though, so the good is rebalanced with the...dentists. 
Tuesday
GOING TO LONDON TODAY! yayayayayayay! I probably won't get there til late afternoon, but the Tate Britain is open til 6- so i might go have another look around literally the best art gallery ever! 
Wednesday
GALLIVANTING ROUND THE 3 FLOOR TOPSHOP. yay! haven't been shopping in London since January, so i'm rather excited! 
Thursday
Seeing grandpaps! Love my grandad, he's literally the funniest person i know, so that'll definitely be a giggle..when we went to Italy, he came to visit, and we lost him in Venice, and found him dancing/tapping to a street performer. He is an amazing man! 
Going down to Birmingham on Thursday h'aaaafternoon to see my Aunt, Uncle, cousins and other grandparents. Haven't seen them in...too long. So i'll be happyhappyhappy blogging!
Friday
Idk if my hair appointment is Friday or Saturday, but i have a hair appointment one, a day of shopping in the bullring the t'other-so either way- luciana = :D :D :D 
Saturday
Whichever way round it is- i'm going to a youth foundation halloween party on the saturday night, so i'm pretty excited- get to go in full costume:') I'm also going to one on the monday night, even though it's school (thankyou mama!) and staying over, so yay!
Sunday
*recovering from party
So that's what i'm looking forward to in my dark hours of revising! 


Ciao!

Love list! No1

Let's be positive now! I'm going to share with you beautiful people, 3 things which i have found online (fashion items!) which i'm currently considering selling my soul for! 

1) These earrings from 1 part of my 3 part holy grail. The toffee/amber colour would look amazing on anyone! Plus the sheer size and statement of them turns my stomach in excitement! At £12.50, they aren't ridiculously expensive, and because of the versatile colour, they definitely add an bit of je ne sais quoi to an outfit! I'd wear with a black outfit and brown satchel for maximum effect! 

2) Cocoon style cardigan from New Look! Forget what the website, this is not "stone" coloured, it is, i hesitate not to tell you readers, MUSHROOM<3<3 and it's gorgeous! Because of the neutral colour, it could be worn with most things...although i strongly implore to refrain from wearing it with white...just, please, no. At £24.99, it truly epitomises New Look as a brand- trending, comfortable and affordable. It'll also look great in Winter...definitely not a whimsical buy, more of a wear it a gazillion times piece.

3) My all-time favourite, and a definite on my christmas list- this necklace from online jewellery shop-thing, Me&Zena, jewellry for the unruly! Lesser known, it's kitsch and cutesy - a little like Eyeko used to be before it revamped into exclusivity. This necklace is £19 but, it's what i believe a statement-yet-versatile necklace should be. 

Please leave comments! -Luciana

Rant no1

Things I shall never understand:
1) Mismatched earrings - i like feather earings, flowers, pearls, gems, anything you can imagine- heck, at 12 i bought myself a pair of dangly guitar earrings with pink flames coming up the sides, but one long, one short just does not do it for me! Whats the point! If they match, ok, earings that go past your shoulders, or just tickle your neck a bit is pushing it, but if one is long, and one is a stud, i think you risk looking a teeny bit derailed. See *1 (from Asos)...and for £12, you could just buy 2 cheaper pairs and mix them up...though, why you'd want to is truly beyond me. 
2)Metallic brogue style shoes, yet another crime of the typically OTB Asos! Ok, we've all been there, with our buckled sequin shoes (hopefully, this style ran out of steam by the time you reached 8, although, truth be told, a pair of sequin high heel ankle boots from stylistpick shoes   are beginning to change my mind), but this is too far. First, they aren't even called brogues, they're called creeper shoes, which bring up many-an unpleasant image...but who could do any creeping if their shoes are a shiny, mirror-esque silver?! And secondly, the price..£70?! for that money you could buy some brogues from new look and a pot of silver paint and go crazy! And you'd still have somewhere in the region of £40 upwards to buy some nicer shoes...i do not dispute the quality...but there must be a balance between the look and the quality. Ergo, for me, at least...these are a no-no... 
3) Craft fair clothes with Vanity fair prices - Now, don't get me wrong, i am a Topshop lover. I swear by it- neigh, i live by it. In my eyes, they can do no wrong...but this...oh dear...I do see the novelty of a £150 dress thats uneven, a little matronly and cooky//kitschy, i do...just...the colours and overall look of the dress make me feel, truth be told, a little queasy. Topshop is innovative, and beautiful to look at..(plus, i'm eagerly anticipating looking at the HUGEE one in London!) but, i can't physically do it. This dress, i cannot praise in any way but it is...unusual, and from one of my favourite brands. Please, if anyone from Topshop reads this, remove it...i implore you, as a long time lover of you, SAVE OUR SOULS. 

BEFORE you start to hate me for writing this, these are my personal opinions, and if you disagree (or agree!) please comment! :)

Saturday 22nd October '11//

I'm aware the above is neither Shenae Grimes or Lily Aldrige, but this is the look i'm going for!

So i just got off the phone with cousin (Emily - who, for all intensive purposes is my second opinion, soul sister and bff),who is sorting out my hair appointment in Birmingham for Friday morning. I'm buzzing, because the salon which i'm going to (which i shall not name until they've done their usual, fantastic job!) is going to Ombre-fy my hair! My hair atm is like a dark chocolatey brown,and i'm bored of it! So, i did a little research a la Google, and i am soooo ready for it! I'm not going peroxide blonde at the bottom, because i still have to deal with the strict regime of school (bummer!) but it's going light brown/ashy blonde at the bottom, and i can't wait to see it! I took inspiration from Shenae Grimes (Annie from 90210) and Lily Aldridge, but as my hair isn't as dark as Lily's, i'm going for the more subtle colour change, but a colour change none the less! I'm also having my nails done while in B'ham, and i'm thinking of going French manicure, because in my opinion, nothing could look more elegant! Either that, or i'll go for a mushroom colour, which is definitely my new fashion obsession. Can't wait! 

greetings!

welcome to the blog a la Luciana! this is (clearly) my first post, and i'm rather excited about it! I'm a beauty enthusiast at heart, and nothing pleases me more than finding a new beauty staple that i love! So, this blog is for me to rant, rave and just all-round discuss which beauty products are changing my life! I am signing up for Glossybox, and i can't wait to get that bundle of joy from my postman! So, without further ado, i am metaphorically cutting the ribbon of this blog, and pronounce Luciana's beauty blog, open for beautifying!