BAFTAs 2014 beauty: What I wore on the red carpet at the Royal Opera House in London

Hey loves!

I hope you are all well and having a great day!

On Sunday evening, I was lucky enough to head down to the BAFTAs at the Royal Opera House in London.

I was reporting from the red carpet for Yahoo Lifestyle and needed a beauty look that would last all evening in the freezing cold outside.

So here's my BAFTAs #FOTD...

Face: Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Perfecting Primer*, Dior Nude Nudeskin Foundation* applied with Real Techniques Expert Face Brush, YSL Touché Eclat, Barbara Daly Concealer, Soap and Glory Kick-Ass Powder* applied with an Avon Powder Brush, MAC Harmony Blush applied with MAC 129 Blush Brush, Benefit Cha Cha Tint, Bare Minerals Well Rested Eye and Face Brightener*, Urban Decay Vitamin B6 Spray.

Eyes: Benefit Stay Don't Stray primer, MAC Eyeshadow in Omega and Mystery applied with a Cosmopolitan Eyeshadow Brush, L'Oreal Super Slim Liner in Carbon Black, Benefit They're Real Mascara.

Eyebrows: MAC Eyeshadow in Omega applied with a MAC 189 Brush.

Lips: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Nude Lustre.

You couldn't really see what I was wearing as I was in a press area with other journalists and it was blimmin' freezing so I was wrapped up in a coat for most of the time! (See below)

In case you were wondering though, I was wearing a black skater dress with a statement necklace and earrings (borrowed from my friend Flo!) along with flat black pumps. No point wearing heels when you're on your feet all evening and no-one can see your shoes :)

The red carpet

I was actually really lucky with my red carpet spot - I was stood right next to the official photo area so I snapped quite a few of the celebs as they were waiting in the queue to be photographed!

Sadly, none of the celebs stopped to speak to me. In fact, Uma Thurman turned around after I called her name, turned her nose up at me and turned back around (!) but Amy Adams was nice enough to pose for a photo for me - what a babe.

Here are some of my photos from the BAFTAs 2014 red carpet...

Lupita Nyong'o

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie

Bradley Cooper's bum (yes, really)

Prince William

Bradley Cooper and Chiwetel Ejiofor

More Brad and Ange

Leonardo Dicaprio

Sam Claflin and wife Laura Haddock

Amy Adams

Eddie Redmayne and his girlfriend Hannah Bagshawe

Tom Hanks taking a picture of wife Rita Wilson (not pictured)

Christoph Waltz

Christian Bale

I also saw a number of other celebrities including Lily Allen, Samantha Barks, Tom Hardy etc but those pictured were the biggest stars there.

Hopefully I get to go again next year as it was just an unbelievable experience!

Thanks again to Yahoo Lifestyle and BAFTA for the amazing opportunity.

Which was your favourite look on the BAFTAs red carpet?

Love,

Sophia

xo

 

January 2014 empties: L'Oreal, Sanctuary Spa, Bioderma, Elizabeth Arden, YSL Beauty

Hiiiii everyone :)

I hope you are well and enjoying your day!

Here are the beauty products I used up this month...

Make-up:

YSL Touché Eclat #1

Every time I run out of this I die a little inside as it costs me a fortune to repurchase. I tend to look for offers at places like Debenhams and Feel Unique before buying again - or Buyapowa. Because of its price, I try to limit its use to special occasions so that I don't use it up too quickly. I know some people don't get along with this but I swear by it for evening out my complexion and making me look 'alive'!

L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim

I also included this in my monthly favourites post as it is such an amazing product. I won't go into too much detail because it's only a liquid eyeliner but if you're on the hunt for a decent drugstore felt tip liner, definitely give this one a go! I've used it every day for the past six months without a problem.

Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant

Originally I got this in a gift set with the Eight Hour skin protectant and hand cream but I've repurchased it on its own a good 2/3 times since. It's a year-round product because it has SPF in it for the summer (mine didn't leave my side on holiday) and the famous Eight Hour formula nourishes lips in the winter. I always use it as a base for any of my lip products as it ensures they're smooth and moisturised prior to application.

Skincare:

The Sanctuary Spa Brightening Facial Radiance Exfoliator

I don't use the Sanctuary Spa products on a daily basis but I do like to treat my skin to the masks and scrubs regularly. I loved using this because the little beads felt like my skin was getting a good exfoliation but also my skin looked really glowing and healthy afterwards. I would definitely recommend.

Bioderma Sensibio H20 Solution

At first I thought this was the normal Bioderma Crealine and not the Sensibio for sensitive skin, but I didn't really notice much difference between them. I switch between using a Micellar water and a hot cloth cleanser but if I am going through a Micellar water phase, I would definitely reach for this first.

Bodycare:

Dove Deeply Nourishing Nourishing Body Wash

I have a soft spot for Dove products as they always make me feel like I'm having a good pamper! This body wash is very rich and indulgent, foaming up nicely in the shower. I could see myself purchasing it again.

Imperial Leather Japanese Spa Nourishing Shower Cream*

If you're looking for something with an oriental/floral scent, I would definitely recommend this. I go through shower gels really quickly so I don't like to spend a fortune. These are normally about £1 in Boots/Superdrug so well worth picking one up if you haven't before.

No7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Body Exfoliator

I think the No7 Micro-dermabrasion range for face and body work really well actually for such affordable products. I like to massage the scrub into my skin in circular motions and then soak myself in moisturiser afterwards. My skin always feels so silky-smooth after using!

Hair:

L'Oreal Elvive Colour Protect Shampoo and Conditioner

I don't think this range is anything particularly special but it definitely does the job and I have repurchased it a number of times. I don't spend very much on shampoo and conditioner as I've not noticed my hair feeling any different having used more expensive products in the past, so I normally pick up ranges like this.

John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Liquid Shine Shampoo*

I really liked the consistency of this because it was was almost like a rich syrup. It felt really luxurious using it on my hair and I noticed my hair looked really thick and glossy afterwards.

Alberto Balsam Intensive Conditioning Treatment

You can get this for £1 in Poundland but it's actually really good! I apply it to the lengths and ends of my hair for about a minute and it leaves it smelling lush and feeling soft.

Clairol Nice 'n' Easy Colour Seal Conditioner

I normally use this after dyeing my hair but I often just use it on its own to give my hair a boost. It's one of the few products to give my locks an instant shine hit and I notice it looking glossy for a couple of days afterwards too.

Herbal Essences Bee Strong Intensive Mask

I've only recently started using this range from Herbal Essences but I have been getting along with the products really well. The scents are just delicious and the consistency is so thick and creamy. I would definitely recommend! The Beautiful Ends one is really good as well.

What have you been using up this month?

Love,

Sophia

xo

*PR samples

 

Posted with Blogsy

January 2014 favourites: Barbara Daly, Dior, Soap and Glory, Vaseline

Hey loves!

I hope you are well and having a great day.

Here are the beauty products I couldn't get enough of this month...

A mixture of high and low-end but mostly drugstore! I'm on a tight old budget... Who isn't?!

Make-up:

Urban Decay Vitamin B6 Spray

I was first introduced to this product at Wireless Festival last year by a make-up artist who was working backstage. My skin felt so light and fresh after she applied it and my make-up stayed in place all day. I have used it ever since and I absolutely love it! It makes my skin feels amazing and keeps everything in place better than MAC Fix+.

Barbara Daly Concealer

I picked this up on a whim in Tesco because I liked the look of it and I had a massive breakout at the time that needed hiding. The last time I used Barbara Daly make-up products was a few years ago when I tried their foundation - and I remember I absolutely loved it back then. This concealer is actually amazing and it's so cheap (less than a fiver!) - I would even put it on a par with MAC Studio Finish concealer. It's perfect for hiding spots and blemishes.

Dior Diorskin Foundation*

I've never used any high-end foundations before expect MAC which are in a league of their own - they all work really wellbut they're all pretty heavy, cakey formulas. I've been using this Dior foundation non-stop for about two months now and I can honestly say I don't know how I lived without it before. It's worth a whole separate blog post but my skin is absolutely awful at the moment (redness, dark circles, sore spots - the lot) but this covers up everything in an instant. It's very lightweight and airy, but the coverage is just so good. Honestly worth trying if you haven't already.

Real Techniques Expert Face Brush

I've found this brush to work brilliantly with the Dior foundation above. I squirt some of the foundation onto this brush, dab it around my face and then buff it into my skin starting at the centre of my cheeks. I used to use a flat foundation brush from MAC before this but now I don't think I can ever go back.

L'Oreal Super Liner Perfect Slim in Black

I go through phases of using the same liquid eyeliner for a while - first it was Rimmel London, then it was Soap and Glory and now it's L'Oreal. I find these felt tip style pens are the easiest to use and this one in particular is suitable for even those with a shaky hand. It's perfect for creating cat-eye flicks as well because it's so thin.

Maybelline Baby Lips in Cherry Me

I know there's loads of blogger hype around these already but I thought I'd add in my two cents if you hadn't heard of them. They're basically tinted lip balms - the one I have is cherry-scented and has a pink sheen. It's ideal for popping in my handbag and applying when my lips are dry but need a bit of colour as well. Definitely worth picking one up in Boots/Superdrug if you haven't already - they're only a few quid.

Skincare:

Avene Cleanance Soapless Gel Cleanser

I am a total convert to the Avene skincare range since I went to the Avene spa in the south of France and saw first hand where the products were made. Aside from its hero water spray, I tend to gravitate towards its Cleanance range for oily/blemished skin. This cleanser is ideal for getting rid of grime in the morning and I would definitely re-purchase.

Clarins Hydra Matte Combination Skin

Aside from the Instant Make-up Remover and the Beauty Flash Balm - both holy grail material for me! - I don't think I've tried anything from the Clarins skincare range. I got this for Christmas and have been loving it ever since. I hardly ever get shine during the day nowadays and my breakouts have reduced. I really want to try the face mask from the same range now because I know I can really trust it and it works!

Bioderma Crealine H20 Solution

Another product that's been hyped about massively but for good reason - it really does work at removing make-up and keeping skin clear. I switch between using a hot cloth cleanser (Liz Earle normally) or a Micellar water, but if I use the latter it would definitely be this.

Bodycare:

Liz Earle Bergamot & Ginger Creamy Shower Nectar*

Liz Earle launched a new range of bodycare products recently and I picked this up along with a body moisturiser. This scent is so fresh and uplifting - I love using it in the shower and a little goes a LONG way. I've been using this bottle for ages and I'm not even half way through.

Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser

I'd seen this advertised for a while but I kept thinking I didn't need another body moisturiser - which is true to an extent, I have loads! But this is on another level because it just makes my life SO MUCH EASIER. I am one of those people that is always busy/in a rush and this is just so convenient. It takes a minute or so to use, smells amazing and leaves my skin super soft. Winner winner chicken dinner!

Soap and Glory Flake Away Body Scrub

I went through a phase of using Soap and Glory products religiously at uni and I only recently fell back in love with them when I got the big gift set for Christmas. Man, have I fallen back in love hard. Soap and Glory makes me so happy! The scent takes me back to a place where I grew into myself as a person. Just... Love.

Hair:

Paul Mitchell Super Skinny Serum

I've used this product on and off for years but have recently started reaching for it more regularly. I've used Moroccan Oil as well in the past but this comes up trumps in my opinion - you only need the tiniest bit and it leaves locks soft and silky.

Herbal Essences Beautiful Ends Conditioning Masque

I use an intense conditioning masque every time I wash my hair (every other day usually) because my hair is so thick, I find that just using shampoo and conditioner doesn't wash it properly. For that reason, I don't spend a lot because I go through so many of them. This one's brilliant as it's lovely and thick, leaving my hair really smooth. It's a bargain at about £4 too!

What did you use up this month?

Love,

Sophia

xo

*PR samples

 

 

 

 

Posted with Blogsy

Bridesmaid beauty: Long-lasting, waterproof, natural and mattifying #FOTD

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all well today and having a great evening :)

Last weekend, I was a bridesmaid at my friend Claire's wedding and my fellow bridesmaids and I did our own makeup for her special day.

It is the first time I've been asked to be a bridesmaid as an adult so it's the first time I've done my makeup for the occasion!

I should have done a run-through really but I just went into it and made it up as I went along to be quite honest. I just knew it had to fulfil the following criteria -

• Natural-looking (you don't want to look more glam than the bride but you don't want to look like you've just rolled out of bed either)
• Waterproof (no doubt tears would be shed as it was the wedding day of one of my dearest friends)
• Mattifying (I have a real problem with shine - especially around the T-Zone - and don't really want to be blotting throughout the service)
• Long-lasting (I started doing my make-up at around 9-10am and it needed to last until about midnight. This was the biggest test!)

Apologises for the quick pic taken in the car but it's the only one I got of my make-up!

Bridesmaid #FOTD:

FACE: Urban Decay Vitamin B5 Spray, Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat, Benefit Boi-ing Concealer, Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation* (applied with an Eyes Lip Face Studio Stippling Brush), MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, MAC Harmony Blush (applied with a MAC 180 Brush), NARS Orgasm Blush (applied with a Cosmopolitan Blush Brush), Benefit High Beam.

I started by prepping my skin my fave spray from Urban Decay, which acted as a base for my make-up. I concealed my dark circles with the Touché Eclat before covering up my spots/blemishes with Boi-ing (this took a while!)

The wedding was actually my first outing for the Dior foundation but it really came up trumps and gave a good, full coverage while still looking lovely and natural. I set my foundation and concealer with my favourite MAC powder before spritzing another layer of the Urban Decay spray (I'm obsessed).

I wanted a bronzer that added a touch of natural colour without looking too dark and chalky, and MAC Harmony fitted the bill perfectly. A touch of NARS Orgasm on the cheeks, followed by High Beam on the cheekbones, browbones and bridge of the nose completed the look - all set with the Urban Decay B5 Spray again.

EYES: Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Urban Decay Naked Palette (Naked, Buck and Sin), L'Oreal Carbon Black Super Liner Slim, Charlotte Tilbury Fat Lash Mascara*, Ardell Demi Wispies Lashes. MAC Omega e/s on lids.

The Maid of Honour and I went for almost identical eye make-up for the wedding, to the point where we literally looked like twins! She did her eye make-up first so I just copied it the best I could. We both opted for a natural smokey eye with a flick of liquid liner and lashings of black mascara.

I always find eye make-up lasts longer on the lids and generally looks better with primer than without so I started with the classic UD one. I couldn't live without my Naked palette and take it with me wherever I go - it's perfect for a daytime look but also for a sexy smokey eye. Then, I blended the lightest shade all over my eyelid and up to the browbone, Buck all over the lid and Sin on the sides to create a smokey eye effect.

The L'Oreal Super Liner is a holy grail product for me now as it's perfect for creating cat-eye flicks and it lasts all day with primer. I skipped kohl liner under the eye as I was going for a more natural look but coated my lashes in a few layers of the Charlotte Tilbury mascara (amazing!) before adding gradient lashes.

LIPS: Revlon Super Lustruous Lipgloss in Nude Lustre.

A slick of this gorgeous glossy nude lipgloss with a hint of shimmer completed my beauty look for the wedding.

The test: Did it last?

Yep! I applied my make-up by about 10/11am and it lasted all the way until 1am the morning after. The only qualm I had was that it wasn't sweat proof and I definitely could have done with a blotting paper or powder during the evening. But other than that I'd definitely recommend the products I used for being long-lasting and natural-looking.

Have you been a bridesmaid at a wedding before? How did you do your make-up?

Love,

Sophia

xo

MAC haul: Fix+, Select Cover Up Concealer, Eye Brows in Lingering

Hey loves,

I hope you're having a great day :-)

So like the rest of the female population, I am indeed a MAC fiend! My obsession only started within the past year, but I've since moved near to a branch and I'm clearly obsessed.

I work right next to the MAC in Neal Street, Covent Garden and I am forever popping in to look at the new collections or generally to have a little nosey around.

I feel sorry for whoever I take my lunch break with because they're usually dragged into MAC with me against their will!

I usually try and behave and not buy what I don't need but often my spontaneous head takes over and... well, here we are!

I re-purchased a full-size MAC Fix+ and Lingering eye pencil and bought the Select Cover Up concealer for the first time. Here's what I thought...

MAC Fix+

I've re-purchased Fix+ two or three times now - I'm definitely a convert! I know this is hit and miss kind of product with a lot of people, with some people saying they don't see the benefits, but I certainly do.

It is essentially a glorified water spray but my God is it worth it! You just need to read the ingredients list to see how good it is for your skin - green tea, chamomile, cucumber to name a few.

It's just such an essential part of my make-up regime now - I use it a couple of times a day without fail.

The first thing I use this for is to prime my skin and help my make-up 'stick' to my face. Then, once I've applied my foundation, I buff it in with a stippling brush spritzed with a little of this. I then spray it on my face after I've applied all my make-up to give it a fresh, dewy finish.

I also spray it onto a spoolie brush (old mascara wand) and brush it through my brows to set them in place. I continue to spray my face with this throughout the day when it's in need of a 'pick me up'!

I would definitely recommend this! You could always buy the travel version first and see how you get on, and if you decide you don't like it you've still got a mini spray bottle to keep! Ha.

MAC Eye Brows in Lingering

This was another re-purchase and something I use pretty much every day without fail.

I went through a phase of having really dark, defined brows but I realised they were probably scaring people off so I ditched them in favour of a more natural look.

This is almost exactly the same colour as my brows! It's a self-sharpening style meaning you just twist it up to get the pencil and you don't have to carry a sharpener around.

It takes me about 30 seconds to fill in my brows using this. I literally just colour them in, it's so easy - and it looks so natural.

The only issue I have with this is - because the nib of the pencil is so thin - it ALWAYS snaps off! It's so frustrating, because it's quite expensive and I normally wouldn't mind but when it snaps off it wastes so much product.

I'm on the hunt for a decent dupe for this but I haven't found anything so far. The closest I've found is a brow product only available in the States - Maybelline Define a Brow! Grr. Let me know if you have the same problem :-(

MAC Select Cover-Up Concealer

This was the first time I bought this after a friend recommended it. I have to admit, I'm not overly impressed with this product!

I was colour matched as NW20 in this - which I'm sure is right - but it just doesn't conceal enough. Under my eyes, I still have dark circles and my blemishes aren't covered that well either.

I have quite high expectations of concealers because I have problem skin - don't get me started! - so it has to conceal REALLY well or I'm not interested.

So far, the best concealers I've found for hiding blemishes are Benefit Boi-ing and MAC Studio Finish. The reason I say both is because Benefit is slightly too dark for me naturally so I use it on nights out when I've got a bit of fake tan! I need to try it in the lighter shade too though really.

For concealing dark circles under your eyes, I've found the Yves Saint Laurent Touché Éclat to be the best so far.

That's it for today's MAC haul but I'm sure there will be more coming your way soon!

What are your favourite MAC products? Let me know over on Twitter now.

Love,

Sophia

xo

Back to MAC: My first experience of recycling my old MAC products for new ones

Hi loves!

I hope you're having a good day and looking forward to the evening ahead.

So I don't know about you, but I am absolutely OBSESSED with MAC make-up. My obsession with the Canadian beauty brand only started a couple of years ago but my collection has expanded hugely.

I find it near enough impossible to go to a MAC counter and not buy anything/come out with swatches all over my hands.

I only heard about the Back to MAC scheme about a year ago and started collecting MAC empties since then. I thought you needed five MAC empties but actually it was six. Here's how it works...

1) Use your MAC products like normal and keep the empty packaging. I stored my empty MAC containers in a small box and ticked off how many products I used up. The rules state you need to have six 'primary plastic containers' in order to qualify for Back to MAC but all my empties so far have been eligible.

My six products were - 2 x Eye Brows (Lingering), 2 x Fix+ (travel size), 1 x Fix+, 1 x Pro eye make-up remover (travel size). Yes - mini sizes do count! Or at least they did in the stores I visited (Covent Garden/Pro in Soho).

2) Swatch until your hearts content! As far as I'm aware, you're only allowed a lipstick in the UK but I think in the States you can get a single eyeshadow instead.

I didn't really go in with a certain lipstick in mind to get. I knew I wanted to swatch Ruby Woo, Impassioned and a couple of others but I wasn't set on them.

3) Choose your lipstick! In the end I went for the Cremesheen Lipstick in Hang-up, which is a deep berry shade - perfect for AW13. The first store I visited (Covent Garden) didn't have Hang-up in stock annoyingly as I swatched it and fell in love with it. I went into the Pro store in Soho the next day and they had it in stock, thank God! I simply took my lipstick to the till and they sorted out the recycling.

4) Use your free lipstick! It's as simple as that. They took away the packaging for Hang-up lipstick (not sure why, must be one of the rules of Back to MAC) but I still got the lipstick brand-new and most importantly, FREE! Here's how it looked on a night out IRL:

My verdict on Back to MAC

I think it's pretty amazing actually! You get a free lipstick for using up products you would do anyway. I was also really happy to find that travel-sized products count as I buy a lot of those. It's a shame you don't get to keep the packaging for the new lipstick but it's still full-sized and un-used. It's definitely made me want to use up my MAC quicker!

Have you used Back to MAC before? What was your experience like? What did you get?

Love,

Sophia

xo

Weekend OOTN, FOTN and HOTN: Leather and lace plus the plum lips trend

Hi loves,

I hope you are all well and looking forward to the weekend if you have it off!

This weekend I went out into town and here's what I wore. Usually I plan my outfits in advance but this was a pretty last minute thing so I literally just grabbed a few things from my wardrobe and got changed before I left the house.

OOTN:

Lace top - New Look (new season)

Black belt - H&M (old)

Leather shorts - Next (past season)

I absolutely love lace at this time of year so I tend to buy a lot of it. This lace tee could be worn with a tank top underneath for work wear or with just a bra for a night out. These leather shorts have lasted me well and work to add a touch of glamour to any look.

FOTN:

Face - Benefit That Gal to prime, YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch, Benefit Boi-ing Concealer, Estée Lauder Doublewear Light Foundation, Benefit Dallas Bronzer, Benefit Coralista Blush, Benefit High Beam.

Eyes - Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion, Urban Decay Naked Palette (Naked, Buck, Cork in the crease), L'Oreal Perfect Slim Superliner on top lid, Avon Color Trend Kajal Stick on lower waterline, Benefit They're Real mascara.

Brows - MAC Charcoal Brown eyeshadow applied with MAC 189 Brush

Lips - LUSH Bubblegum lip scrub, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant to prime, Revlon Kissable Lip Stain in Crush.

HOTN:

Prep - none (hair was freshly washed that morning)

Curls - GHD Original Styler

Hold - L'Oreal Paris Very Volume Supreme Hold Hairspray

What did you wear out this weekend?

Let me know in the comments or tell me on Twitter now!

Love,

Sophia

xo