Nails and Teapots

I, like most people, look forward to the Summer months not only for the warmer weather but also for the change up of my makeup, skincare and fashion. Summer means, for me, brightly coloured nail varnish, sandals and extra pretty accessories. However, I sometimes find that even the most perfectly painted toenails can be let down by some not-so-pretty feet. As I have worked within the customer service field for the past six years, I find the long hours of standing on my poor little tootsies has really taken its toll. Before O'Keeffe's got into contact with me, I was starting to accept that I had ruined the condition of my feet forever and they will forever remain dry and damaged. However, their quality of life has been changed forever thanks to the bright blue bottle of the 'Healthy Feet' Foot Cream. Over the past few weeks, I have been applying this cream to my feet every night before bed and have been extremely satisfied with how quickly it soaks into the skin without leaving my feet feeling uncomfortable. After a few days of consecutive use, I found the dry skin on my heels was beginning to break down leaving baby soft skin underneath which I have not experienced in years - and I mean years. 

However, this miracle story does not stop here as I also suffer quite regularly with dry hands due to psoriasis that affects other parts of my body as well, such as my elbows. This has always been an aspect of myself that I have been fairly conscious about especially in Summer as I have no sleeves to cover it over. This explains why I was so happy to find that after applying a small amount of the 'Working Hands' Hand Cream morning and night to each of these problem areas, I found the sore dry patches began to ease up and my hands were left with little dryness over the space of a couple of weeks use which is a stark contrast to how they were before. 

I am blown away by the quality of these products and was outsounded ever further when I found that each tube only cost around £6 and can be found in the simplest of places such as your local Boots. These have definitely been little miracle tubes for me this Summer and have become staples in my morning and evening routines. I am excited to continue using this product and already know these will crucial additions to my winter evening routine as this is when I find my skin is at its dryest. 

Let me know what you think.

What products are staples for you in the Summer months?

After asking on social media whether anyone would actually be interested, I found myself a mere twelve hours later filming my whole highlighter collection for all my fellow glow-getters out there. It was touch and go at some points and if you make it past even just the highlighter palette section of this video, I have a huge amount of respect and gratitude for you. This video allowed me to finally fulfil my dream of bathing in a pool of highlight as after swatching a countless amount of powders, creams and liquids, I was glowing from top to bottom. Do not fear though, I have got your back, so if check out the description box of the video you will see I have given the minutes for when each section starts and ends so if you are all about the cream formula and powders don't interest you, just skip to your preferred time.

So if you want to see what highlighters I have purchased over the past few years and which are my go-to one's for a blinding glow, then check the video out! I would love it if you could like, sub and leave a comment with your channels in the comment section below.

What highlighter's would you recommend?

Today I am being a bit of a narcissist and showing off my makeup skills (I use the word 'skills' loosely) that were put to the test when I did my friend and fellow YouTuber, Jemima's makeup.  Doing makeup on yourself can be challenging at the best of times and that especially applies on those days where your skin does not want to cooperate and your brows barely resemble cousins let alone sisters. However, doing makeup on someone else is the true test as it is a completely different canvas to work on especially as Jemima and I differ in skin, hair and eye colour. Nevertheless, this is also where the enjoyment comes into play as it is fun to see how products appear on different skin tones and how one person's eye colour may 'pop' more so than another's. 

We essentially decided to film each other doing our everyday makeup looks but on one another and you can watch both of our faces transform from our own to each other's, live before your eyes! Always the critic, I was expecting to hate my own creation but twinned with Jemima's good looks and the makeup Gods being on my side, I am actually quite pleased with how it turned out.

So please go over to the video (linked above) and show it some love and be sure to check out Jemima's own vid (here) and the rest of her channel as I am sure you will all love it. If you want a full product list of this look also, check out the description box on the video.

Thanks for stopping by!

What products are essential for your everyday makeup look?

So if you have read my blog for a while or watched any of my YouTube videos, you will know that I am highlighter OBSESSED. When I say that I sometimes purely get out of bed in the morning because I am excited about the prospect of highlighting, you may think I am being dramatic which to be fair I am but I am also being honest. I find highlight is the miracle product that steps your makeup look to the next level hence why it is typically my second to last product used (I apply it just before my blush) as I love watching my makeup transform from boring to bomb. I also find highlight is the perfect way to fake a healthy glow which is always greatly appreciated when you are not feeling your best. I am always on the hunt for a highlight that blows me away and I will continue on my expedition to the find the perfect glow that can be seen from space and only then will I be fully satisfied. On purchasing these two Jeffree Star Skin Frost's I had not heard much about them at this point and hadn't tried anything from Jeffree's brand. However, the bright, if slightly garish, pink packaging caught my eye on the pages of Beauty Bay and I decided to pick up the two shades Peach Goddess and Lavander Snow to see how they compared to some of my other powder highlights. 

I feel the most important thing that needs to be mentioned is the actual size of this product as in terms of beauty products I find size, in fact, does usually matter. You can gain an accurate representation of the size in my January Favourites but I honestly was blown away by the almost generosity as although the product is not exactly cheap, usually, most high-end brands do not give you much for your money. Secondly, the pigment of these powders is insane which of course is a must in terms of a good highlighter. I felt the way the pan looked was deceptive of this as at a glance the powder looks more grainy than finely milled and definitely a far cry away from the smooth, creamy appearance of Becca's Shimmering Skin Perfectors. However, once applied onto the skin, the powder offers a blinding glow that does not emphasise any pesky pores and left me speechless. The downside is that the powders do sometimes tend to create a bit of fall-out which is probably due to the fact that the formula is initially fairly chunky but once this has been blended out, it does look seamless on the skin with no glitter or powder particles in sight. My favourite shade out of the two is by far Peach Goddess as I feel this is perfect for my pale skin and appears more of a golden-peach rather than pink once applied meaning no awkward streaks in sight. However, I feel in the pan, Lavander Snow wins in beauty as the colour is so unique and beautiful and adds a bit of oomph to a simple makeup look on a day when you may not have much time. I cannot wait to try more of the shades from the Skin Frost range and I will be sure to keep you posted on my findings. 

These highlights retail for £25.50 which may at first seem pricey but for a 15g product that boasts an incredible glow, I feel that this is pretty reasonable. 

I would love to hear your thoughts!

Have you tried any products from Jeffree Star?

I feel like a missed an opportunity here to review these products around Valentine's Day because nothing really says love much like receiving a heart shaped blush from your partner, right? However, Too Faced Sweetheart Blushers (£24) are for life, not just for Valentines Day hence why I am still choosing to review these now. These blushers were one of those items that I have lusted after for YEARS but I had never rushed to purchase them as I knew they would not be disappearing off the market anytime soon so there was no haste on my behalf.


Anyway, back to the blushers that also feature gorgeous, sightly-gimmicky heart shaped packaging that replicates the pan within the cardboard box of joy. The main convention of these blushes that originally caught my attention is the subtle shimmer that adorns the gradient hues thus offering a healthy, radiant glow to the cheeks which is always welcome in my eyes. I also love the range of colours that Too Faced have featured and it took a lot of deliberation on my end to finally make the decision to pick up the shades Peach Bellini and Peach Beach. Peach Bellini offers a true peach glow that will be incredibly relevant for Spring/ Summer as orange is most definitely the new black in 2017. I love how the pan includes a deep pink to counteract the stronger orange tones which I am sure was to spare anyone from walking around with cheeks that look like they have been dusted with the remnants of a Wotsit. Ultimately, it emits a warm coral shade on the skin with a subtle golden undertone that would be perfect for those who are looking to skip a step in the morning and would rather trade in their highlighter for a highlighting blush (I mean...that would offer you at least another sixty seconds in bed). Peach Beach, on the other hand, is my personal favourite as it applies a pretty, natural pink to the skin and compliments my pale complexion perfectly. I tend to opt for muted toned blushers as I always go slightly overboard on my eyes and need a natural cheek to counteract this extremity. However, the subtly is no reflection on the pigmentation as each of these blushers requires a light hand during application so I would recommend to apply a small amount at a time and build the colour up to ensure everything is just peachy (get it). If you are looking for a new blush and are a sucker for pretty packaging like myself, check these out online (linked above) or in most Debenhams stores - I promise you will not be disappointed.

Okay, I am very aware that I am incredibly late on the bandwagon in regards to this palette from Urban Decay. I was at first hesitant to purchase it as I was very content with my Naked Basics 2 and the original Naked Basics had never really interested me and I did not, at the time, feel it was necessary to have even more matte eyeshadows. Oh, how I was wrong. If I am completely honest it was the shade Extra Bitter that really caught my attention and trapped me in a state of lust which led me to promptly adding this to my Debenhams bag and purchasing it without a second thought. 

First up, I feel the shade range needs to be discussed. As I have previously mentioned, I am fully obsessed with the warm-toned orange shade, Extra Bitten, as I feel this colour is vital in a matte formula for any warm-toned shadow lover like myself. Orange will also be a prevalent shade this Spring/ Summer which also explains why many other brands are opting to include orange tones in their palettes. I also love the top three left shades as I feel it offers a real spectrum of opportunity in terms of a matte brow bone highlight which is always completely necessary. I feel the only shades I would not get a full use out of are the two on the bottom right, Magnet and Blackjack, as I am not one for grey tones as I usually tend to go for purples and reds when it comes to a smokey-eye. I also found that these two deeper tones do lack in pigment so would not really work to their full potential if used to smoke out an eye look

Essentially, this palette would be ideal for those who tend to use predominantly mattes as the shade range does cater for a variety of looks and most typically, warm-toned looks as there is a lack of cooler hues. Equally, this palette is great for those, who like myself, may already have a wide range of palettes that offer an abundance of iridescent finishes but need a matte to complement them in which case, this palette would be a perfect addition to use in companionships with the majority of warm-toned palettes

The pigmentations of the shades do vary as you can see in the swatches above. Whereas some shades such as Extra Bitter and Pre-Game really pack a punch and apply seamlessly with little fall-out (a rarity for UD eyeshadows) others fall short at the hurdle such as the greys and unfortunately the purple-toned Lethal which disappointed me. However, these powdered shadows can still be built up if you are willing to put the work in so don't let yourself be put off by this fact too much. 

All in all, I am very pleased that I finally purchased this palette and I now wonder whether I would have still purchased the Naked Basics 2 if I had known this was in the pipeline as that has pretty much become redundant thanks to its successor.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

Have you tried any of the Naked Basics palettes?

This video featured the Anastasia Beverly Hills Palette which was a new addition to my collection and I am SO happy I finally managed to get my mits onto it. Much like a magpie to shiny things, I am instantly attracted to warm tone palettes and if you are too then this palette is definitely one for you. I love the array of shades this palette offers, especially the matte raspberry pink (Love Letter), the deep orange (Realgar) and of course the beautiful brown-toned red (Red Ochre) which is a staple in any palette that takes inspiration from red hues. I feel the colour selection is spot on and offers a variety of looks for any warm-toned lover. However, it was the formula of these shadows that really blew me away as I have not delved into Anastasia shadows much other than the odd single pan which admittedly has spent the majority of its time in a Z Palette in my makeup drawers. The tiniest touch of the brush in the powder and the pigmentation instantly packs a punch and subsequently blends beautifully onto the lid. The shades build wonderfully (as you can see in the video) and the fall out is minimal although still slightly there yet that is expected in any palette that has a really high pigmentation. The only downside is the packaging which I will not go into now as I mentioned it in a mini rant within the video but nevertheless I cannot wait to try more palettes from Anastasia after using this one!

Next up is probably my most favourite product that I featured in the tutorial and that is The Jeffree Star Skin Frost in the shade Peach Goddess and I later mentioned this in my January Favourites. First of all, I was seriously impressed with the size of this product as I feel like you really do get a good amount of powder due to how much you spend - a rarity in terms of makeup on the higher end of the scale. Secondly, the glow this gives is seriously insane and mimics the look of glass on the skin. I would say if you are fair skinned like myself, do not be put off by the 'peach' in the shade name as the peachy undertones barely translates onto the skin meaning it pretty much only adds serious glow as opposed to colour. I just love how pigmented this powder is and how you can instantly watch the highlighter pop on the skin as soon as it is applied. If you are after a new highlighter I urge you to check this out. I most definitely want to purchase some additional shades after next pay day! 

Before I explain why the Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder was the product that didn't impress in this tutorial, I feel like I need to mention that I have combination skin and on my more oiler days this powder is a dream to work with. It was just unfortunate that my skin on the day of filming probably was not at its best texture and that really translated onto the camera as it appeared patchy and left my skin looking flakey, which is why I deemed it 'the not so pretty' part of this makeup purely because it was the one product that impressed me the least. However, I will still continue to use this product but I will just have to make a conscious effort to wear it on days that I know it won't clash with my skin tone. Nevertheless, if you are on the hunt for a powder to try your hand at 'baking' with, then I would recommend this as I feel it has been the best loose powder I have tried so far and works a treat when my skin is behaving!

I hope you enjoyed this kind of post as it is something I have never done before. 

If you liked it then do please let me know!

What do you deem to be the Good, the Better and the Not So Pretty in High End Makeup?

Here are a few mugshots taken from my most recent video, My January Favourites! The video included products such as the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders, my new favourite contour brush, the Jeffree Star Skinfrost in Peach Goddess, the Laura Geller Baked Illuminator in Gilded Honey and the Sleek Highlighting Kit in Diamond in the Rough that I recently viewed here. If you wanna hear my thoughts regarding any of these products and find out my holy grail eyebrow product which I sure matches yours, then click the link above and I shall see you here again on Monday for The Good, The Better and the Not So Pretty of High-End Makeup.

Also, please leave what products you loved throughout the month of January so I can check them out!

Thanks for stopping by!