Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up

Weekend Supplement #22

Hey everyone!
Sorry I've been a little MIA this week; what with Christmas and transferring stores in my job I was a little run off my feet. I hope everyone's been having a great holiday season and that you're all looking forward to New Years! I will probably end up staying in this year, but have fun wherever you are!
Here's what I've been browsing this week:

I love list posts like this one on some beautiful subterranean homes.

This is an amazing post on the conflict between American Airlines and passengers who bought lifetime first class tickets - how they may have abused the system, and how AA used sneaky tactics to try to sue them.

Here's a roundup of some portrait photography tutorials which might be interesting if you like photography or beauty blogging. I need to get me a softbox!

On a more serious note, this Rolling Stone article on the sudden poverty and homeless affecting the middle class of America is moving, inspiring and captures the consistent fear of poverty in an honest way.

Image: Anatomy of Beauty

I've been in love with Anatomy of Beauty ever since my friend Sam sent me a link - so much so that I read all the way back through the archive! Blanka does some seriously stunning makeup looks, and tutorials to help out if you want to recreate them, as well as reviews and swatches. The photography is brilliant, too.

Hope you enjoy!
S xx

Happy Holidays!

Hey everyone!

Or, if you don't celebrate Christmas, happy holidays!
Sxx

Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows Christmas Hiatus

Weekend Supplement #21

Hey everyone!
I know I missed the Weekend Supplement last Sunday, but all I was reading online that week was sad and news-based, so I couldn't really think of a way to construct the post. Needless to say, I am back this week - and having recently updated my Flipboard and saved about a million articles from Longform and in my Pocket app, I have a lot of stuff saved up!
I hope you have had a lovely week, and that you enjoy looking at what I've been browsing this week.

Having just caught up on Sons of Anarchy, which is one of my favourite shows of all time, this Fortune article on how the Hells Angels make their money was beyond fascinating. It still feels incredibly relevant despite being written a decade ago.

On the subject of television, this Vanity Fair piece discussing Freaks and Geeks with it's creators and some of it's actors is really worthwhile, for fans of the show and those that just love the Apatow gang.

Stamps are not very sexy, but this Dark Roasted Blend feature on the world's most unusual stamps (including one that turns into a book, and one that contains 'the world's shortest movie') is brilliant.

There is a lovely look at the successful campaigns for marriage equality in this year's US Election season in The Atlantic. It is both touching and important to read, as it addresses how much of a struggle it took to get to this point, and how much work is still ahead.

Collector's Weekly explores the world of Project Neon, which functions as a blog, Etsy shop and an app discovering the great neon signage of New York City, and the history behind it.

You have to love anyone who references The Babysitters Club in a beauty blogpost. Beauty Blogging Junkie imagines the perfume tastes of Claudia Kishi, and thinks about where she would be now.

Image source: The Doppelgänger

My blog for this week is The Doppelgänger. I love the clean, picture-focused layout, her outfit posts, graphics and her statement brows. Lauren does some great makeup. You can follow her blog through Bloglovin' or RSS at the bottom of the page (took me ages to find!) It's seriously worth a look if you have even a second.

Have a great week!

S xx

P.S. - Today, it is me and my boyfriend's 6 year anniversary, so I just want to be gross and affectionate and say thank you to him for all of his support and also for being really handsome.

Topshop Lip Crayon in Suspect

Hi everyone!
Guys, I'm in love. No, not just with my boyfriend, although that too and everything. It's with a lipstick. And a lipstick from Topshop at that, who seem to be converting me with some really delicious shades of late.
You know I love matte finishes, you know of my recent obsession with plums and purples and burgundies. Topshop have combined the two and come up with the Lip Crayon in Suspect (£7) and seriously, it's like they read my mind.

The packaging is sweet, it is easy to use if a bitch to sharpen, it glides on pigmented in one swipe and feels almost velvet-creamy on application. The colour is opaque, completely matte and unbelievably long wearing and non-transferring on me.

One tiny snag is that it does feel a little drying. I would definitely recommend a lipbalm underneath it, but I feel like it's worth it because of the colour, which is a true, dark purple, with almost a magenta afterthought in there somewhere. This is the lipstick I would wear out to party, or as my statement lip without much else going on through the day.

I cannot emphasise how much I love this. I think this may be one of the few, serious gushes I have done on this blog. I wish it wasn't as drying as it is - then it would be perfect. As it is, it's a close to perfect as I'm going to get.

What do you think? I'm sure lots of people think dark purple is hideous but I figure - why on earth not?





Sxx

Sponsored Post: Stay Festive and Fresh with Dove

Hey everyone! Today's post comes with a Merry Christmas video from Dove, reminding us (in a sweet way) of the times we'll need to stay fresh in the festive season. I know that I, for one, don't want to leave deodorant streaks on my glittery party dress!
So keep festive and fresh during the holidays - and take a look at the Dove video below for a spot of Christmas sparkle.

S xx

All I Want For Christmas Tag

Hey everyone!

Well, it's less than a week till Christmas so I'll be posting slightly less until after the 26th (I have two Christmasses, one with my mum, one with my dad the day after) so I thought I'd do some fun tags, like the All I Want for Christmas Tag that Wendy asked me to do!

Enjoy! (I hope you like the fake snow. I went a little crazy cause I love it!)

1. What was the best present you received as a child?
I got many lovely things over the years - one year, my mum got me a bike, one year my dad gave me his prized guitar. To be honest, I'm sure there are many things I loved, but what I loved best was spending the whole day (and the 26th, with my dad's side) with the people I love most in the world.

2. What's at the top of your wishlist this year?
If it was possible for someone to organise it so that I'd have a really good year in 2013, that would be at the top of the wishlist. I do find however, that the older I get the less comfortable I feel saying 'I want.' Maybe a good lighting setup or new camera lens, and there are always a couple of beauty bits, books and movies and albums I'm looking at. But I can't really think of any 'demands' as it were.

3. Do you have a funny Christmas tradition?
I'm sure we do but they don't seem odd to me. Because it was just me and my mum on Christmas (until my lovely stepdad joined in last year!) we never ate a 'proper' Christmas dinner, we just picked all our favourite foods in the world and made them all. I was also always allowed to wake her at stupid o'clock in the morning for present opening. 
Oh, and we always buy one 'special bauble' each for the tree a year which is why nothing is matching and I love our crazy tree. I started the tradition with my boyfriend last year.

4. What are your three Christmas party beauty essentials?
Red lipstick, a good highlighter and a handcream (it's cold!)

5. What's your favourite Christmas movie?
It's A Wonderful Life. I've said this before, I'm sure, but the boy and I's anniversary is on the 23rd so we go to see It's A Wonderful Life at the cinema and go to dinner. It's a really lovely film, and I never fail to cry.

6. Are you a giver or a receiver?
I'd like to think giver. I really like nothing more than thinking of the perfect, thoughtful gift and being able to pull it off. My boyfriend is a really excellent gift giver, so I try to take cues from him. Sometimes you  happen upon something you know someone will love and it's brilliant to be able to give that kind of joy to someone.

7. Who will you be kissing under the mistletoe this year?

My lovely boyfriend, of course. It just so happens that our anniversary is the 23rd of December, and we'll be celebrating six years together this year. So lots of kissing! No mistletoe necessary.

I tag all of you! Please feel free to leave a link in the comments if you've done this tag.
S xx

How I Apply A Matte Red Lip

Hey everyone!

My last 'how to' seemed to go down pretty well, so I've done another one, this time on how I apply a matte red lip. I hope you like this one too. As usual, this comes with the disclaimer that I'm not an MUA, so this is just how I do it. Enjoy!

I used Rimmel Red Diva Lipliner (£3.99) , and Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet in La Fascinante (£25), as well as Carmex (£1.95) as a base.

S xx

Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up

Hey everyone!
I hope you are having a great week so far, and that you enjoy this week's instalment of Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows.

Weekly question: Do you find yourself asking for expensive beauty items for Christmas that you would never buy for yourself?

Seonaid's answer: I don't really like to ask outright for expensive items at Christmas anyway, but if someone presses me, yes, I suppose I do go for the things I'd feel guilty buying for myself. This is not with the expectation of receiving these items though! 

This week's links:

Affairs Magazine - Michelle has been on the quest for the PERFECT Red Lip! 

Beauty and Baggage - has been pampering herself this winter.

Fashionable Heart - swatched Dior's Amber Diamond for you!

Massachusetts Mask - shows you her very late November favorites!

Norwegian Elephant - fell in love with a shower gel.... yes, it's possible!

So, do you ask for expensive items for Christmas?
S xx

Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed and Sensational No Oil Oil

Hey everyone!

I know I've waxed lyrical on the blog about Percy & Reed before, so you might be tired of hearing it, but it should also be no surprise that the latest product I've tried from them knocked it out of the park. Again. The Percy & Reed Smoothed, Sealed and Sensational No Oil Oil For Thick Hair (£14) is more affordable than other hair oils I've tried (Morrocanoil, Macadamia Oil) and works just as well.

It can be used on wet or dry hair, and two pumps (it comes with a pump, yay!) is enough for hair my length (currently shoulder length). My hair used to be very fine, but it's now like fine hair but lots of it, so the thick hair oil works well for me.
The oil contains pomegranate oil and heat protecting agents, and it smells lovely. I can't pinpoint the scent but it's not too sweet or chemically. I smooth it through my hair when wet, and when I dry my hair it is sleek and shiny. I'm lucky to have naturally quite straight hair, but this makes it look flyaway free and very high-shine. I find that it doesn't weight down my hair or leave it without body and movement, even when a small amount is used on dry hair.
I am so in love with the brand in general - it's packaging is sweet, it has some great products (the Dry Conditioner, the Volumising Mousse) and this product just confirms that.

Have you tried any Percy & Reed products? Or, what's your favourite hair oil?
S xx

Winter Pamper

Hey everyone!

As the days here grow increasingly shorter and colder, I find my skin and hair really taking a hit. I've by no means discovered the perfect skincare (there are still a few things on my wishlist I think could be game-changers) but I thought I'd share my winter pampering favourites with you. Here's what I've been using on freezing nights when I have no desire to step outside.

I always take showers, very rarely a bath (I find I am too tall for our bath, plus I tend to get bored). In the shower I like to use the Phyto Phytoneutre Clarifying Detox Shampoo (£10.50) once a week to deep clean my hair and leave it healthy and build-up free. I also like to give myself a good exfoliating with my favourite scrub of many years, Soap and Glory Sugar Crush (£8) - it smells so citrusy and refreshing that I am instantly in a better mood.
After stepping from the shower newly clean and sloughed-off, I light a nice candle and then  I like to apply a little La Roche Posay Lipikar Baume AP (£8.85) as a leg and body moisturiser. It's soothing and sinks in quickly, and is free of fragrance and parabens. It helps soothe my freshly shaved legs. Then I apply Soap and Glory Heel Genius (£5.50) to my feet and pop on a pair of socks. I know people say to do it at night and wear the socks overnight but I find that I overheat and the sensation is unbearable. So I just do it for the evening, and remove the socks before bedtime.
Next is the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment (£25.45 full size)*, massaged through my hair from the mid-ends down to leave shiny, soft, tangle-free hair. Sometimes I let it dry naturally, other times I'll give it a quick blow dry.
After all this, it's a moisturiser - I've been using the Clarins Beauty Flash Balm (£28 full size)* in a relatively thick layer like a mask and removing after twenty minutes with a cotton pad, and then Monu Collagen Eye Cream (£22.50)* to add extra moisture where I need it most thereafter.
For nails, it's a quick file, paint and addition of Lush Lemony Flutter Cuticle Butter (£6.25) - unbeatable - and Soap and Glory Hand Food (£5). For any persistently dry skin spots, or very dry hair, I add a few drops of Nuxe Huile Prodiguese (£29.50), and then I sit back and relax with a good book.

I'm sure this routine will change over time as I work to improve my skin, but for now I think it works really well.

What's your pampering routine?
S xx

My Beauty Firsts

Hey everyone!
I thought it might be kind of fun to do a tag that Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup, and Lily from What I Heart Today, posted on Youtube. I thought it was a fun tag to watch, so I'm doing it in the form of a blogpost.

What is your earliest beauty memory?
My earliest beauty memory is of sneaking one of my mum's lipsticks out of her drawer, trying to apply it, and breaking it. I kind of smooshed it back on and hoped she wouldn't notice, which of course she did. Sorry mum!

What was your first beauty purchase?
Oh god, it was either the Maybelline Dream Mousse foundation (which every girl in my school wore in their early teens, and did not work for my dry skin) or a Stargazer blush in bright, neon red, which I wore as an eyeshadow.

When did you first start wearing make up?
About 14 is when I really started wearing it, to school and outside of school. I made a lot of errors in my early days but I'm glad I started wearing makeup earlier so I had time to be creative and make mistakes. Although I'm sure I still make mistakes now!

What was your first beauty disaster?
Let me see, there are so many...heavy foundation; white foundation (I had a serious emo phase), green eyeshadow and pink lipstick, ringing my eyes in kohl like a panda, drawing liquid eyeliner patterns under my eyes. I 'experimented' pretty heavily and based my look almost entirely off Marilyn Manson for about a year and a half. Several embarrassing moments from that time, but what else is youth for?! 
I'm glad I went crazy with my hair and my makeup and so on when I was young. At least you couldn't say I was boring!

Who was your first beauty crush?
That I was aware of? Probably Brody Dalle, who I still happen to think is incredibly good looking, or Dita von Teese. I bought her double-sided Burlesque & Fetish book and was entranced by her whole look and demeanour. 

What is your first brand crush?
It wasn't until I got properly into makeup that I had a crush on a brand, but I'd probably say MAC. Back in my crazy makeup days my aunt bought me two MAC eyeshadows (Carbon, and a limited shade I can no longer remember, I think) and I'd loved them, so when it came to purchasing 'proper' makeup, that's where I first headed. I think I liked it because it offered so much more than your conventional shades. It's a brand for everyone.

What is your longest standing beauty love?
As I said above, some MAC eyeshadows were bought for me pretty early on, so I've probably loved those the longest. I like how many different textures, shades and so on you get with MAC shadows. I do not love the price, however. I've also enjoyed Revlon, Laura Mercier and MUA since I started getting into makeup.

I tag everyone who reads this! Leave a comment with a link if you do it, I'd love to read!

S xx

Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up

Hey everyone!
I hope you've had a great week and have another awesome one ahead. Enjoy this week's Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows. Be sure to get in touch with one of us if you want to get involved in the international round-up!
I'd also like to say a huge congratulations to Michelle! See why below :)

Weekly question: What's your go to holiday makeup?

Seonaid's answer: In the morning, nothing at all! I get up really early on Christmas,and don't bother with anything but maybe a bit of moisturiser. By the time it's time for dinner I might have put on a little tinted moisturiser, mascara and a swipe of red lipstick, but that's usually about as far as it goes on a day that's about so many other things.

This week's links:

Affairs Magazine - Michelle is back from Morocco and ENGAGED!

Beauty & Baggage - tries out looks for the holidays, including a sparkling blue velvet makeup.

Fashionable Heart - tags YOU in the "All I Want for Christmas" tag! 

Massachusetts Mask - is obsessing over gunmetal nails with a polish from Revlon!

Norwegian Elephant - is hosting her very first giveaway just in time for the holiday!

So,

S xx

Weekend Supplement #20

Hey guys!
Can't believe it's #20 of the Weekend Supplement! I hope you're all having a good week, and staying warm if you're in the UK, where a cold snap has kicked in. Here's what I've been browsing, snuggled into a blanket, all week.

The Muppets and Christmas are kind of synonymous now, so enjoy this super-catchy CeeLo Green and The Muppets Christmas son, All I Need Is Love.

And now that you're already watching videos, how about feeling like the least graceful person on the planet? Because you will after seeing this video by Marquese 'Nonstop' Scott and Jon Boogz. It's amazing.

If you are looking for some gorgeous street style, check out The New York Time's Bill Cunningham 'On the Street' page. Totally worth it, I promise.

This really made me smile - Buzzfeed has a list of the ten best places in America for seeing Christmas light displays. Some are crazy but all are fascinating (San Antonio's River Walk strikes me as particularly beautiful).

Image: Killer Colours

If you don't already know it, check out Killer Colours, a truly awesome makeup blog recommended to me by my lovely friend Samantha. Flawless makeup looks time and time again, and reviews of some really interesting products ( a lust for Lit Cosmetics Glitters was fuelled by this blog!)

S xx

Holiday Makeup: Gilt Wrapped

Hello everyone!
Today's the last day of my little holiday makeup series, and it's perhaps the look I thought of first - if you read this blog regularly you'll know I'm a big fan of gold and bronze eyeshadows, and what better time to amp them up than the holidays? I'd say this is the most relaxed and thrown together of all five looks I've done; I've bronzed and highlighted the skin, added thick mascara, painted on a (slightly skewed) red lip, and just pulled my hair back into a messy knot. I think this looks relaxed, especially minus false lashes which have been in all four of my other looks. I like the glowing, bronzed skin though - I think it adds a little something. What do you think? Let me know!
P.S - Sorry about the colour difference in both photos - the light was fading fast so it looks like these were taken at different times of day when really the were taken in the same ten minutes. Both are as accurate as I could get them, although the top photo is darker - I think it shows the bronzer and highlighter at their best, though.

Products used:

Face:

Monu Brightening Boost*

No7 Beautiful Skin BB Cream for Dry/Very Dry Skin in Fair

Sephora Bronzer in Clair

Vivo Baked Blusher in Peaches & Cream

No7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter

Eyes:

MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Down (brows)

Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit in Ivory

Makeup Forever Smoky Lash Mascara

Maybelline Color Tattoo in On and On Bronze (base)

MAC Eyeshadow in Amber Lights (lid)

MAC Eyeshadow in Honey Lust (browbone, inner corner)

MUA Undressed Palette Shade 8 (crease, lower lashline)

Lips:

Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic Lipliner in Red Diva

MUA Lipstick in Shade 1

S xx

Holiday Makeup: Christmas Cranberry

Hey everyone!

Another (yes, another) holiday look today - this one with a lot of MAC Cranberry shadow, possibly my favourite MAC shadow. I'd like to apologise in advance for how overexposed the photos look - I did the best I could with incredibly low light (it's so grey here!) and a little bit of Pixelmator to try and make the makeup true to colour. I hope you enjoy the makeup! Let me know what you think.

Products used:

Face:
NARS Multi-Protect Pro Prime
L'Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream for Fair Skin Tone
Sephora Bronzer in Clair
Sleek Blush in Suede
No7 Vital Enlightening Highlighte

Eyes
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Rust (base)
MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Down (brows, crease, lower lashline)
MAC Eyeshadow in Cranberry (lid)
MAC Eyeshadow in Amber Lights (inner corner, threaded through brow)
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Perversion  (waterline)
Katy Perry x Eyelure Lashes in Sweetie Pie
Makeup Forever Smoky Lash Mascara

Lips:
MAC Blankety

S xx

Holiday Makeup: Blue Velvet

Hello everyone!

It's another holiday makeup look today; I hope you are enjoying them so far. I have a couple more in the works too, which I hope makes up for the lack of FOTDs in the last few months. This look has much more intense eyes than the two I have done already this week - so I left the rest of the face dewy and simple, and my hair down and unstraightened, just brushed out and simple I think if you have long hair, a super sleek and straight ponytail would work really well with a dramatic eye look like this.

Blue might not be a colour easily associated with Christmas, but glittering and paired with gold I think it looks like a dramatic twist on the festive. It also happens to match the wrapping paper colours I have chosen this year. 

I know I used a lot of colours on the eyes - a matte base for blendability, some shimmer shadows and then the standout, a duochrome Barry M Dazzle Dust that looks alternately green, blue and purple depending on the angle of the light.

This is also the first time I have used tape to make an eye look. I hope you like it!

Products used:

Face:
Monu Brightening Boost*
Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation in 101 Beige Porcelaine
MAC Blush in Pink Cult
Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit in Ivory

Eyes:
Benefit Bad Gal Lash
Katy Perry x Eyelure Lashes in Cool Kitty
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Pacific (as base)
MAC Eyeshadow in Brown Down (eyebrows)
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Radium (lower lashline)
NARS Larger than Life Eyeliner in Abbey Road (waterline)
Sleek Ultra Mattes V2 Palette - shades Ink (crease) and Orbit (lid)
Wet N Wild I Got Good Jeans Palette - shades gold (inner corner) and dark blue (crease)
MUA Glamour Days Shade 2 (lid)
Barry M Dazzle Dust in 98 Petrol Black

Lips:
Revlon Lipstick in Pink in the Afternoon

S xx

Holiday Makeup: Golden Eye

Hello Everyone!

Another holiday makeup look for you today - I hope you like it. Today I went with the classic black liner, red lip combination but with a bit of a twist (deep plum liner in the waterline and sparkling gold lashes). This look will work if you don't want to do something too crazy, but you still want the look to be special and stand out from the crowd. For this look I randomly curled my hair (this is something I am not very good at, by the way) and added a feather clip a friend of mine made just for something extra. I included a shoot of my eyes looking downward as the glitter on the lashes is mostly piled on top - something of a blink-and-you'll-miss-it flash of glamour. Let me know what you think!

Products used:

Face:
Monu Brightening Boost*
No7 Perfect Skin BB Cream for Dry/Very Dry Skin in Fair
Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit in Ivory
NARS blush in Orgasm

Eyes
L'Oreal Super Liner Gel Intenza
Fashionista Brow Kit*
Soap and Glory Thick & Fast Mascara
Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Rockstar (waterline)
Lash Perfect La La Lashes in Party Peepers*

Lips
Rimmel Exaggerate Automatic lipliner in Red Diva
Illamasqua lipstick in Encounter

S xx

Holiday Makeup: Frosted Berries

Hello everyone!

I said I was going to be posting some holiday makeup looks this month and this is the first - a frosted eye and a glossy berry lip. Because the lips are the main focus of the look, the eyes are shimmery but not lined. I pulled my hair back in a messy bun to allow the makeup to take centre stage, but did not make the bun too neat so as not to make the look too severe. Let me know what you think!

Products used:

Face:
Monu Line Smoothing Skin Perfector*
Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation in 010 Beige Porcelaine
Bobbi Brown Concealer Kit in Ivory
NYX Blush in Taupe (contour)
VIVO Baked Blush in Peaches & Cream

Eyes
Illamasqua Pink Smoke palette (light silver colour)
Barry M Dazzle Dust in 27 Gold Iridescent
Katy Perry x Eyelure Lashes in Sweetie Pie
Benefit Bad Gal Lash
Fashionista Brow Kit*

Lips
Sleek Eau La La Liner in Raisin
Revlon lipstick in Black Cherry
Barry M clear lipgloss

S xx

Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows: Weekly Round-Up

Hi everyone!
I hope you've had a great week! Enjoy the latest from Around the World in 80 Eyeshadows! Remember if you're interested in joining the link-up you can email any one of us.

Weekly question: What beauty products are in your purse right now?

Seonaid's answer: This is weird because in the UK a purse is like your wallet, whereas in the states it means your handbag! So, what's in my bag right now? My Carmex Cherry lip balm, because it is so very cold; my Fashionista Brow Palette (because it has a big mirror inside it); my Illamasqua lipstick in 'Encounter' because it was the lipstick I wore to my work Christmas night out; and the very last of an almost used up tube of L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream.

This week's links:

Affairs Magazine - is still in love with Morocco.

Beauty & Baggage - rounds up her most loved products of November.

Fashionable Heart - had a blast at the Givenchy Beauty Gala!

Massachusetts Mask - reviews Bath & Body Works newest fragrance and gives you a chance to win it!

Norwegian Elephant - is taking the week off to spend time with her family.

So, what beauty products are in your bag right now?

Weekend Supplement #19

Hey everyone!
I hope you have all had amazing weeks, and that the one coming is equally lovely. This week's weekend supplement has some awesome DIY gift and wrap ideas, in case you want to make your own presents this year. I have been looking for more all week.

The perfect present for the home - present some pretty plants in even prettier, and unique, plant pots. Mini Penny shows you how.

For an unusual and fun gift, how about creating your own individual nesting dolls - you could even make them look like the person you are gifting them too! Penelope & Pip walk you through it.

I love getting new notebooks for Christmas - something psychologically refreshing about new pages and a new year. These gold leaf DIY-ed neon notebooks could be the perfect gift. See how to make them over on Heart Handmade UK.

If you need a present for kids, how about these DIY Surprise Balls made with retro trinkets and crepe paper over on Honestly WTF.

And once you've made all your gifts, here are nine ideas on how to wrap them beautifully, courtesy of Papernstitch.

Image: Studs and Pearls

And the blog this week is fantastic, fashionable and easy to understand DIY blog Studs and Pearls. If you don't already know it, check it out. The tutorials are fun, modern and easily followed, which is a big plus in my book. Glue guns at the ready!

S xx

November Favourites 2012

Hey everyone!

Now that all my Christmas giveaways are over, it's back to regular beauty posts from me. I'm excited; I have some holiday season makeup looks to share with you over the coming week that I'm really hoping you'll enjoy. But before I start with that, here are my favourites from the month of Novembe. 

L-R: Dior Rosy Glow, Urban Decay Ransom, MAC Fanfare

1. Dior Rosy Glow Blush (currently £26.55 in sale) - This blush looks different on everyone because it reacts to the pH of your skin. On me it's a light, flattering baby pink. The packaging is luxurious and gorgeous, and this is the blush I wore as my mother's bridesmaid. Here's my original review.
2. Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Ransom (currently £11.70 in sale) - I reviewed this here recently, and mine is a travel size that came with a set. I love the creamy, easy-to-apply formula, the longevity and the pigmentation as well as the electric purple colour.
3. Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment (£9.68)* - Again, the one I have is a sample size, but once I run out I will be repurchasing this. It works just as well, if not better than Moroccanoil for a marginally less, and whilst it's just silicones, it makes me hair seem shiny and less frazzled when I use it infrequently. Original review here.
4. Carmex Cherry (£2.69)* - This is pretty self explanatory. I really need a lipbalm now that the weather has turned terribly cold! My thoughts on it in more detail are here.
5. MAC Fanfare lipstick (£14) - I love this lipstick - a perfect, creamy neutral pink that is infinitely wearable and sits perfectly on the lips without slippage or settling into lines. Original review here.
6. NARS Yachiyo Kabuki brush (currently £33.75 on sale) - Yes, it's very expensive. It's also lovely to look at and brilliant for applying blush, especially those that are more pigmented. Having been using it for a while, I can now say I have experienced no shedding or leaking of dye, too. Here's my original thoughts.
7. Monu Renu Lip and Eye Active Lift (£29.95)* - Another expensive one, but a pretty good eye cream in my opinion, that does blur imperfections and make eyes seem less dry and puffy. Click here for a more in-depth review.
8. Rimmel Disco Gold nail polish (£4.59) - I love this flakie, iridescent top coat over both darks and pale pinks - perfect for the holiday season!

What are your favourites this month?
S xx