Spring Wedding Guest Outfit: New Look Lace Panel Wrap Dress And MAC Lady Danger Lipstick!

Hi loves,

I hope you're all really well and enjoying the spring weather!

I recently attended the wedding of two of my close friends in Bournemouth and I loved getting dressed up for the very special occasion. 

Here's what I wore...

FASHION:

Dress - New Look (O/S but some sizes available on Zalando)

Heels - Very.co.uk (O/S but similar styles available on ASOS and New Look)

I was really pleased with how this dress fitted - although I had to pin it around the bust area (story of my life) as it was VERY booby. Bust-aside, the material of the dress was almost crepe-like and felt very comfortable when it was on. Plus it allowed me to graze on the wedding buffet with ease thanks to the flattering/forgiving wrap design! Also, the shoulders, sleeves and back of the dress were made of a floral lace pattern which I thought added a really pretty touch.

I thought the gold heels added a bit of pizzazz to my outfit - you can't see in the pic but I've got some sparkly earrings on too. The shoes were also really comfortable - the heel itself was tiny (a really small box heel) so it meant I could hit the dance floor with no worries. Are you sending a theme here? I'm all about the comfort these days... #granny

Make-up wise, I went for a bold lip and lots of bronzer...

BEAUTY:

FACE: Benefit That Gal Primer all over face as base, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in #1 under eyes, MAC Studio Finish Concealer on spots/blemishes, Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation buffed in with Real Techniques Buffing Brush, Bare Minerals Pressed Powder for shine, Benefit Hoola Bronzer, Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator in 02 Peach to highlight, Urban Decay V6 Spray to set.

EYES: Urban Decay e/s Primer Potion, Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette (shades Naked, Buck and Smog), L'Oreal Super Liner Black Lacquer, Benefit They're Real mascara.

EYEBROWS: Filled in with MAC Omega and Charcoal Brown e/s, using MAC 208 Brush. Set using No7 Brow Gel.

LIPS: LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub and Dr Organic Organic Coconut Oil Lip Balm (LOVE THIS) to prep lips, filled in with Urban Decay Lip Liner in Bang, MAC Lady Danger Lipstick.

HAIR: I curled my hair using the original GHD straightening irons, tied it up in a bun while I did my make-up, brushed the curls through and then sprayed my hair all over with L'Oreal Very Volume hairspray. I added a little bit of Paul Mitchell Super Skinny serum to the ends because they were a bit frizzy.

Oh and if you're wondering if that golden glow is natural, I can assure you it's completely fake and you can't quite see from the pics but it's really patchy too! I used the Garnier mist and made a right mess with it - I had patches all over my arms, body and legs! My boyfriend had to fill in all the white patches with instant tan a few hours before the wedding. Total disaster. The truth behind the glossy Insta pics, eh!

What's your wedding guest style inspo?

Love,

Sophia x

PS. Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir; Instagram - @smoir90; Snapchat - @smoir90

Bargain Beauty Alert: Benefit Girlesque Gift Set!

Hi girls,

I hope you're all well!

Recently I picked up a MASSIVE beauty bargain that I had to share with you - anyone that knows me will know that I'm obsessed with money-saving; I don't buy anything without a promo code, go out for dinner without a discount code or buy anything without shopping around to find if I can find it cheaper elsewhere. Money-saving is legit one of my true passions so this money-saving bargain was too good to miss...

I was on the hunt for a new Benefit Hoola bronzer because mine had run out. I tend to buy drugstore everything these days (make-up/skincare) but I said to myself that if I could find Hoola on the cheap, I'd invest. The problem is, there are so many fakes flying around on Depop/eBay that it's almost not worth looking for a bargain online because you're likely to be buying a counterfeit which is a total waste of money and time full stop.

Then I came across THIS amazing Benefit Girlesque gift set on ASOS - 

This is what it contained:

Benetint Medium | 4.0 mL

Hoola Bronzer | 8.0 g (RRP £24.50)

The POREfessional | 22.0 mL (RRP £26.00)

They’re Real! Mascara | 8.5 g (RRP £20.50)

The RRP of the Girlesque gift set was £44.50, but it was on offer in the ASOS sale for £29.66. 

ALL of the products included are full-size except for the mini Benetint and I've listed the RRP of the individual products above, so the total value of the products in the gift set (excluding the metal container) is £71.00. 

I GOT THE WHOLE LOT FOR LESS THAN 30 QUID. HOW AMAZING IS THAT!?! 

Especially considering I was only looking for the bronzer which is worth nearly £25.00 on its own - I basically got the other beauty products included in the gift set for free. Now THAT, people, is a bargain. In fact I already own Porefessional so I've listed it on Depop already and made a profit :)

Have you picked up any amazing beauty bargains recently?

Let me know in the comments!

Love,

Sophia xo

PS. Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir; Instagram - @smoir90; Snapchat - @smoir90

Avene Cleanance review: Skincare for oily/blemish-prone skin

Hey loves,

Hope you're well and had a great weekend!

So I'm not sure exactly why but my skin has been flaring up quite a bit recently - it's probably a combination of stress, poor diet and not having a proper skincare routine.

I decided to try the Avene Cleanance range for oily/blemished skin as that's definitely what mine is at the moment.

I recently went on a press trip to Avene in the south of France where I saw the origins of the skincare brand first hand so I felt like it was a range I really believed in and trusted.

Here's what I've been using from the Avene Cleanance range*:

Avene Cleanance Gel

I've been using this soapless cleanser to wash my face first thing in the morning. It has a pretty mild scent but it really feels like it's getting rid of all the dirt and grime from my face.

Avene Cleanance Toner

I know a lot of people don't use toner, but for me it's an essential step in my skincare regime. This toner is formulated for oily skin so it soaks up excess sebum, evens out your complexion and removes any traces of cleanser. I've found it's definitely helped to clear out my skin and if I don't use it, I get spots.

Avene Thermal Spring Water

I didn't realise how much of a multi-purpose product this was until I actually went to Avene and saw it being used first hand. I like to use it to give my skin a moisture boost after a bath or shower, but before using moisturiser. I also use it to refresh my skin throughout the day.

Avene Cleanance Lotion

The final step in my skincare routine is this moisturising lotion that controls oil throughout the day. I find that my skin gets REALLY shiny and so this really helps to manage that. I would say that I have to use blotting papers at lunch but that's because my skin is excessively oily.

I have been following this skincare regime for about a month now and my skin has definitely got better. I used to get really sore, broken skin on my T-Zone and chin but that's reduced significantly.

I still have whiteheads on my forehand but I think that's because I'm lazy and use Micellar water in the evenings rather than a hot cloth cleanser like I know I should.

If you've got oily, blemished, spot/acne prone skin and you're trying to clear it up, I would definitely recommend this range - let me know how you get on!

What's your skin type and have you found a routine that suits you?

Let me know in the comments!

Love,

Sophia

xo

*PR samples

Boots No7 Voucher Haul Including Michelle Keegan's Wedding Lip Gloss!

Hey loves,

I don't know about you but the brand No7 holds a special place in my heart - I've used it for years and I've always found the products to perform as well (if not better) than some of the premium brands on the market - at a much more affordable price point.

In fact, just having a scroll through some of my old blog posts, it looks like I've done a fair few No7 hauls in my time... here and here in fact. Funnily enough, I've just re-purchased two of the items that I bought in my 2010 and 2011 hauls without realising! They MUST be good.

So when the £5 off skincare/£3 off make-up vouchers started flying around at the start of 2017, it made sense to stock up on some of my faves. 

Here's what I hauled this time...

Clockwise from L-R:

No7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Face Exfoliator - £11.00 (£6 with £5 off voucher) - Boots

Described as 'a tried and tested dermatological technique' by No7, this facial exfoliator contains tiny micro crystals - which feel like sand when massaged onto the skin - and leaves skin 'softer, silky to touch and more refined.' I have to admit, this is a re-purchase of mine as I've been really impressed with it in the past - it leaves my skin feeling soft and clear and definitely helps blemishes/dark spots fade. I'd 100% recommend this!

No7 Beautiful Skin Hydration Mask - £12.50 (£7.50 with £5 off voucher) - Boots

This is another product that I first bought many years ago but unfortunately, it looks like they've changed the formula since I last stocked up? This time, it feels thick and gloopy - last time around it was rich and creamy, but not like this. If you're reading this No7, why'd you change it???

No7 BB Lips in Ballerina - £9.00 (£6 with £3 off voucher) - Boots

I first came across this product after stalking make-up artist Krystal Dawn's Instagram - she's the MUA who did Michelle Keegan's wedding make-up (anyone who knows me will know that she is my absolute idol in life). I had to pick this up when I received my voucher - anything to be one step closer to my girl Mich. I wore this for an evening meal out recently and it's just lovely - it's a gorgeous pinky nude shade, perfect for popping in your handbag! Now I want to stock up on some more shades if you guys have any recommendations...

No7 Beautiful Skin Quick Thinking Wipes - £7.00 (£2 with £5 off voucher) - Boots

I must have re-purchased these wipes about 20 times - I use them when I go away/go home and need something quick to remove my make-up, or to take off my make-up before I go to the gym. I try to avoid using face wipes but these are just fab for on-the-go jobbies. They're lovely and soft, full of moisture. Plus for £2.00 you can't really go wrong!

TOTAL SAVED: £18.00!

What are your fave No7 products? Which should I pick up next time there's a voucher?

Love,

Sophia xo

PS. Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir; Instagram - @smoir90; Snapchat - @smoir90

Christmas 2016 Gifts: Lots Of Lovely Beauty Treats From Pixi, Elemis, Lush And Eve Lom!

Hey lovely ladies,

After Christmas, I like to have a little snoop to see what people got for Christmas, whether it's on Instagram, blogs or YouTube. I'm just inherently nosy - I can't lie!

In light of that, I thought I'd share with you all a couple of beauty bits I got for Christmas so that you can have a little snoop if you like (no judgment here...)

Clockwise from L-R:

Pixi Glow Tonic

I've seen this on COUNTLESS beauty blogs, plus it comes recommended by Caroline Hirons AKA the Skincare Guru. She was the person who taught me to have a proper skincare routine - starting with an oil or cream-based cleanser, double toning and then specific skincare oils/serums. I'm really looking forward to trying this - I'm just finishing off my Botanics toner at the moment and then I'll move straight onto this. 

Elemis Gentle Foaming Face Wash

My lovely friend Lucy gifted me this - I have to say I'm not one to spend a lot on skincare products as I've found in the past that you can get the same results using drugstore brands. But Elemis is a real luxury skincare brand that I would never splash out on myself so I'm glad I get to try this. It always brings back memories of spa treatments because that's the brand a lot of the spas I've been to use in their facials! #dreamy

LUSH Golden Wonder Gift Set

I have to admit, this is one present that I made use of immediately - I'm a complete Lush addict and I go through bath bombs and bubble bars in no time at all! This gift set contained the Golden Wonder and Star Dust bath bombs - both were delightful but Golden Wonder notably so as it's encased in a gold bath bomb however when it reaches the water it turns a magnificent green shade. I was in heaven!

Heyland & Whittle Bath Set

I hadn't heard of this brand before but it's actually a quality soap/bath brand selling hand-made products. My lovely gift set contained four luxury bath melts and a soap - all of which smelled delightful. They made my bath feel like a real treat! 

Eve Lom Lip Balm And Cleanser 

As mentioned earlier, I don't tend to spend a lot of money on skincare so Eve Lom is a brand that I've been lusting after for a long while but yet to try out myself... until Christmas that is! I was amazed to receive not one, but two Eve Lom treats this year - I can't wait to try these out! I'm sure they will both be AMAZING.

L'Occitane Gift Set

This gift set contained a mini bath melt and shea butter hand cream - well I've tried the bath melt and it was lovely and the hand cream is perfect for popping in your handbag too. It smells lovely and creamy too. Such a lovely gift!

Coco Loco Coconut Spritz

I'm pretty loyal to my Aussie Leave-In Conditioner spray but when I saw countless positive reviews of this, I thought I had to try it. A part of me wants to save this until my holiday because the smell of coconut always reminds me of holidays! We shall see, either way I'm hoping it will leave my locks feeling soft and silky...

What did you get for Christmas this year?

Love,

Sophia xo

PS. Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir; Instagram - @smoir90; Snapchat - @smoir90

NOTD: OPI Swiss Collection - Color So Hot It Berns

Hey ladies!

I bought my first OPI!!! Crazy stuff. The Swiss Collection was on offer in the ASOS Sale for just over a fiver, who could say no?

The shade I bought, Color So Hot It Berns, was the only one in the collection that could be worn as a summer shade really, the others were obviously all for the winter months (when the collection was released).

I was pleasantly surprised, it only took 1 coat! It was so thick, nothing like anything I've ever used before! Not like the M&S shade I wore that took 3 coats! I used OPI Nail Envy (Original) as a base coat and Sally Hansen Diamond Shine as a top coat in the pic above.

I live in reds and corals over the summer months so I've got a feeling this shade is going to get a lot of wear out of it! I probably wouldn't pay full price for OPI just because I probably have a similar shade in my collection already, but I would definitely get some from the States or eBay or something! Saying that they are worth their £10 price tag, I just can't justify spending that!

What's your favourite nail brand? Do you wear OPI?

Love,

Sophia

xo

Summer Wedding Guest Outfit: Oasis Pleated Floral Skater Dress And L’Oreal Colour Riche Lippie

Hey loves,

I hope you're all well!

I recently attended the wedding of one of my boyfriend's close friends and as you would expect, I spent months planning my outfit. What can I say? I'm one of those people!

Here's what I wore...

FASHION:

Dress - Oasis

Strappy heels - Next

I spent AGES trying on dresses - literally I must have ordered about 10-15 and I was taking photos of myself in every single dress, each time wearing heels then not heels, wearing a belt and then not wearing a belt... I must have sent my boyfriend and sisters about 50 pics for them to have a look at! 

In the end, I didn't go for any of the dresses I ordered (soz guys who had to trawl through all those pics!) - instead I spotted this dress in Oasis just off Oxford Street and fell in love with it straight away. If you can't make out from the photo, the lower half of the dress is pleated which I think is really pretty, while the high-neck, fitted style on the top half is flattering on my bust. I'd definitely recommend Oasis for this sort of occasion dress. 

BEAUTY:

BASE: Benefit That Gal primer, YSL Touche Eclat under eyes, MAC Studio Finish concealer on blemishes, NARS Sheer Glow foundation (buffed in with Real Techniques Buffing Brush), Bare Minerals pressed powder, NARS Laguna bronzer and Orgasm blush, Benefit High Beam to highlight (obsessed!), Urban Decay setting spray. 

EYES: Urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion, Urban Decay Naked 1 palette (Buck, Smog and Darkhorse), L'Oreal Paris Superliner waterproof liner, Benefit They're Real mascara.

BROWS: MAC Omega eyeshadow (applied with MAC 208 Angled Brow Brush), set with No7 Clear Brow gel.

LIPS: Lush Bubblegum lip scrub, L’Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire in Rose Symphony.

Classic, indecisive me also spent bloody AGES choosing my lip colour - I must have taken 20-30 photos of different lip colours and sent them all to my sisters for approval lol. From bold orange (MAC Lady Danger) to vampy red and matte nude, I really couldn't decide what lip colour to go for...

In the end, I had a little rummage through my mum's make-up drawer and found this L'Oreal lippie - I knew it was the perfect colour straight away! It complemented the colours of the flowers on the dress and finished off my look without overpowering the dress.

By the way guys, while I'm on the topic - those L'Oreal Colour Riche Extraordinaire hippies are in TK Maxx at the moment - I picked up the coral shade in Balham for about 3 quid! They're amazing if you want a pretty pop of coloured gloss! They're not sticky at all either. I must have at least 3 or 4 shades...

Have you got any weddings coming up? What do you plan to wear?

Love,

Sophia xo

PS. Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir; Instagram - @smoir90; Snapchat - @smoir90

June Empties: Avene, BareMinerals, La Roche-Posay, Origins, Avon and TRESemme

Hey gals!

So it's been a while since I've done an empties post, but that doesn't mean I haven't used up a LOT of beauty products in that time (obvs).

Here are the beauty buys I finished up in June...

Clockwise from L-R:

TRESemme Restructuring Deep Conditioning Treatment RRP £4.99

I try and use an intensive conditioning masque on my hair at least once a week, favouring Aussie's 3 Miracle Miracle and L'Oreal's Intensive Masques after years of trying different ones. I picked this one up because it was on offer in Superdrug and I'm always after a bargain, me! Unfortunately it was quite difficult to wash out and I found I still had residue in my hair after spending a LOT of time washing it out. As a result, it made my hair look greasy. Not a fan, sorry TRESemme :(

Avene Cleanance Expert RRP £15.00

I wasn't sure about this at first, but continued using it as I'd heard loads of bloggers and press raving about it. I used it after cleansing and toning, but before moisturising, twice a day. I found it really helped to clear up my skin - especially on my forehead and chin, where I tend to get hormonal-related blemishes. I would definitely repurchase!

Avene Micellar Lotion RRP £16.00

I actually bought this in France in an *amazing* pharmacy and it was SO cheap for a massive bottle. Readers of this blog will know that I'm a loyal fan of Avene skincare, after I visited the Avene Hydrotherapy Centre in actual Avene! I tend to use the Cleanance range as my skin is oily/blemish-prone, but I really liked this from the 'regular' range because it felt like I was applying water to my skin. It had a mild, fresh scent and removed every trace of make-up. Love it!

Avon Clearskin Blackhead Clearing Daily Astringent RRP £4.00

I used this when my skin was REALLY bad because it's quite intense and makes my skin sting a bit. It worked to clear it up though, it's just very, very strong, so not ideal for sensitive skin types.

Cien Madame Glamour Hand Cream RRP £1.85

Absolutely blimmin' loved this. In case you didn't know, Cien is one of Lidl's own-brand beauty ranges and the 'Madame Glamour' branded-products smell just like Chanel's Coco Mademoiselle. Total barg. Pick some up next time you're in Lidl for sure.

Origins GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser RRP £15.00 (for 150ml)

I started using Origins after reading Michelle Keegan's blog and she raves about it. I've written a mini-review of this particular product here but in a nutshell, I really liked it. It left my skin feeling clean and refreshed, plus it smells amazing. YAY!

Dolce and Gabbana Dolce EDP RRP £49.00

I don't really have a 'signature' scent - I used to wear Miss Dior Cherie religiously at uni but it was a) really expensive and b) discontinued, so that was the end of that one (luckily for my purse). Since then I tend to just wear whatever I reach for in the morning! I think I received this one from a press event but it's lovely and light, perfect for summer. Sorry, I'm rubbish at describing fragrances. I would suggest going to Boots and giving yourself a spritz of this :)

John Frieda Luxurious Volume Dry Shampoo RRP £5.89

Nah, not a fan. It didn't make my hair feel cleaner/less greasy, nor did it give it any volume. No wonder it's been discontinued... Soz, John Frieda :(

La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo + RRP £15.50

This is really similar to the Avene Cleanance Expert, and to be honest I couldn't choose the better one out of the two. They're even the same price! I suppose the La Roche-Posay has more blogger/press hype surrounding it, but at the end of the day they work the same. I would repurchase this too. Really great product for clearing up breakouts.

BareMinerals Stoke Of Light Eye Brightener RRP £22.00

I don't really wear heavy foundation these days and when I do, I lean towards mineral foundations from brands such as BareMinerals. I just don't like the feel of thick, heavy make-up on my skin, especially when it melts off in the sun... This eye brightener was fab at removing dark circles under my eyes, and concealing blemishes, although I found I needed a second concealer (such as MAC Studio Finish) on top of it to completely cover blemishes. 

Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Mild RRP £16.50 (for 200ml)
It does what it says on the tin really - cleans your face :) not a lot to say about that other than it leaves your skin feeling squeaky-clean. You can't go wrong!

What did you use up this month?

Love,

Sophia xo

PS. Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir; Instagram - @smoir90; Snapchat - @smoir90

Lots Of Lovely New Origins Skincare: Mini Review For Oily Skin Types!

Hi peeps!

So Origins isn't a skincare brand I have tried a lot of over the years - I tend to stick to the same brands (Avene, The Body Shop, etc) and rarely branch away from the norm for fear of wasting my money and/or time.

But I'm an avid follower of Michelle Keegan's blog and she swears by Origins (namely the Dr Weil range) so when I was given a gift set as a present recently, I was eager to try it out...

Here's what I tried...

GinZing Refreshing Scrub Cleanser

GinZing Energy Boosting Moisturiser

GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream

Modern Friction Dermabrasion Scrub

Drink Up Intensive Overnight Mask

Original Skin Renewal Serum

So first impressions of the GinZing range - well it smells AMAZING (that's if you like fresh, citrusy scents). 

The immediately noticed that the moisturiser doesn't have SPF in it so I tend to just use it before I go to bed and use my Murad moisturiser with SPF30 for during the day. Secondly I have to say, I suffer from oily skin and this exacerbates the problem for me. It is very rich and not suited to my skin type I don't think.

The eye cream has the same scent - I haven't noticed a huge difference in the dark circles under my eyes but then again I have been applying it sporadically i.e. when I remember! I finished up a tube of the facial cleanser and it was lovely and refreshing, and I didn't find that it made my skin more oily. I would use it again.

I LOVED the dermabrasion scrub - I use it a couple of times a week when I'm in the shower and I find it really works to make my skin clear and glowy. The Drink Up overnight mask was again too rich for my skin - and I didn't notice much difference after using the serum.

So overall, a bit of a mixed bunch - some items will be added to my beauty bag (the cleanser and the dermabrasion scrub especially) but others will be relegated to my bottom drawer unfortunately. Again, that's just because I have oily skin - they may work much better for you!

What are your favourite Origins products? And if you're oily-skinned, what are your fave brands and/or products?

Let me know in the comments...

Love,

Sophia xo

Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir; Instagram - @smoir90; Snapchat - @smoir90

Celeb Inspired Yellow Boohoo Skater Dress For Newcastle Night Out!

Hey ladies,

So with the sunny weather comes sunny fashion, and there's no shade I'm loving more right now than yellow.

Ahh, yellow... <3 so dreamy!

I know, I know, it's the same every year so not exactly new or groundbreaking, but I feel like it's *THE* hue of summer 2016. 

Case in point, Jessica Chastain, Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick at Cannes... Come on, how gorgeous do these ladies look?

CELEB STYLE:

All images copyright [Instagram]

With this in mind, I picked out the prettiest dress I could find in the sunniest shade of yellow for a night out recently. Check out the look below...

FASHION (OOTN):

Dress - Boohoo (link)

Wedges - Elisabeth

Awkward pose and cheesy grin - all mine

I bloody love skater dresses, not gonna lie they're pretty much all I wear (aside from floaty playsuits... anything that covers my midriff basically). To be fair, with boobs and a bum and a mere 5 foot 1, they're pretty much all I can wear these days. Also, how much of a barg is it? £15 from Boohoo... amazing. 

Beauty wise, I went for my classic night-out make-up palette plus my trusty MAC Lady Danger lipstick (LOVE IT).

BEAUTY (FOTN):

BASE: Benefit That Gal primer, NARS Sheer Glow foundation (Real Techniques Buffing Brush), Urban Decay De-Slick pressed powder (Avon powder brush), NARS Laguna bronzer (Real Techniques powder brush - yes for bronzer!), NARS Orgasm blush (Zoeva blush brush), Clinique Up-Lighting Liquid Illuminator, MAC Studio Finish concealer, YSL Touche Eclat, Avon setting spray.

EYES: Benefit They're Real mascara, Benefit Roller Lash mascara, Urban Decay eyeshadow primer potion, 17 eyeshadow trio (MAC 217 & 239 brushes), Rimmel Scandaleyes bronze shadow stick, L'Oreal Paris Superliner waterproof liner.

BROWS: MAC Omega eyeshadow (MAC 208 Brow Brush), No7 Clear Brow gel.

LIPS: Lush cola lip scrub, MAC Lady Danger lipstick, Urban Decay Bang lip pencil, No7 clear gloss.

LONG LIVE Nars Sheer Glow for staying on all night! YASSS! It's my go-to foundation atm...

Are you as obsessed with yellow as me at this time of year? Let me know in the comments...

Love,

Sophia xo

Follow me on social media: Twitter - @smoir, Instagram - @smoir90, Snapchat - @smoir90

NYE 2016: All That Glitters! Nars Dragon Girl Lip Pencil And Very.co.uk Sequinned Jumpsuit

Hi loves,

 I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year! 

My NYE was quite a chilled one spent with friends at home. I was also feeling slightly groggy (boo) but I still made the effort to add some sparkle to my New Year's Eve 2016 party look.

I wanted a classic matte red lip for NYE 2016 and in the end I opted for Taylor Swift's fave red lippie, NARS' Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dragon Girl...

This is one of my favourite lip formulas - the chubby pencil is a dream to apply (you don't even need liner) and the colour payoff is amazing. It's matte, so you'd think it'd be drying, but it's not too bad actually. Nevertheless, it lasted all night! 

 I kept the rest of my beauty look pretty simple, consisting of a slightly dewy base (NARS Sheer Glow Foundation) and a feline flick of eyeliner (Urban Decay Ink For Eyes), topped off with a few coats of Benefit's They're Real mascara.

I wanted something relatively comfortable to wear as I was on hosting duties, but also something glam enough to wear for NYE, so I chose this jumpsuit from Very.co.uk. 

I received it a couple of years ago during a press event and it's been sitting in my wardrobe ever since - clearly waiting for the right event! The top half is a fitted, sequinned bustier and the lower half is a pair of almost harem-style trousers.

I added a statement waist belt from H&M to jazz it up a bit and to match the gold embellished hooped earrings I was wearing.

Clearly, shoes were the last thing on my mind before the party...!

Love,

Sophia x

PS. For more #bts shenanigans like the snaps above, add me on Snapchat - my username is smoir90 :)

L'Oreal Paris True Match foundation in N1 Ivory - Review, swatches and FOTD

Hey guys!

I hope you're all well and have had a lovely weekend. It's actually sunny today - yay!

So I don't know about you but one of the main things I look forward to most about spring is changing up my make-up routine! Of course, that means wearing a new foundation...

Say hello to my new foundation du jour, L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation in the shade N1 Ivory.

Of course, one of the reasons I picked this up is because the lovely Cheryl Cole is the face of it. If that's not a reason to get it, I don't know what is - she always looks amazing!

The main selling point of the L'Oreal True Match foundation is that it matches any skin colour. In fact, it goes as far as saying that it's 'L'Oréal's first foundation to perfectly match the colour and texture of your skin.'

I have to say, I completely agree with that! I'm VERY pale (NC15 in MAC) and foundations are very often too dark for me. I find it very difficult to find drugstore foundations for my skin colour. Here's how True Match foundation compares to others in my collection.

L'Oreal Paris True Match Foundation comparison swatches:

Top - MAC Pro Longwear Foundation in NC15

Middle - L'Oreal True Match Foundation in N1 Ivory

Bottom - Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect Foundation in 52 Rose Clair

In the swatches, I would say that MAC Pro Longwear is the shade most true to my own skin because I've been properly colour matched in that.

L'Oreal True Match therefore is a little too light for my complexion, but I think it works really well as a base shade to add warmth to. And besides, I was colour matched in MAC in the summer when I've got a bit of a tan.

FOTD with L'Oreal True Match foundation:

FACE: MAC Fix+, Estee Lauder Doublewear Concealer in Light, MAC Studio Finish Concealer in NW15, L'Oreal True Match Foundation in N1 Ivory (applied with ELF Stippling Brush), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light, Benefit Hoola Bronzer (applied with ELF Studio Complexion Brush), MAC Fix+.

EYES: Urban Decay Primer Potion (Original), Sleek Storm Palette (taupe and matte brown shades), Soap & Glory Supercat felt tip eyeliner, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick on lower waterline, CoverGirl LashBlast Mascara.

EYEBROWS: MAC Eyebrow Pencil in Dirty Blonde.

LIPS: The Body Shop Cocoa Butter lip balm.

Final thoughts:

I've been using L'Oreal True Match foundation for a couple of weeks now and I'm truly really impressed with it. The consistency is quite thin and runny but it's perfect for using as a base layer to even out your skin tone and mask imperfections.

Because the consistency is nice and creamy, it's really easy to add layers and make the coverage heavier if you require it - I certainly have been!

It doesn't go cakey or oxidise and you don't get the dreaded neck lines. The coverage is really natural looking and blends into the skin perfectly. I'm so glad I found it!

What's your foundation of choice at the moment? Have you tried L'Oreal Paris True Match? Let me know over on Twitter now or in the comments below!

Love,

Sophia

xo