Broken down on the motorway to IMATS : (

On my way to IMATS!!!

Makeup Travel Essentials and Makeup SOS!

Hey my Cherubs! Sorry it has been a while since I posted, we have had some MAJOR issues with the laptop - technology hey?!

Anyhoo I thought I would share my tips on how to travel lightly, yet still have enough makeup to hand to get you through a jam packed holiday. My recent trip was so so difficult to pack for as I had a city break, wedding, trek in cold climates, then beach break in an extremely stylish city (Miami)! And only 23 kg luggage allowance OMG! What a nightmare! I think I managed to really hone my travel packing skills with that holiday! haha! I thought I would share what I actually took in terms of make up. I really want to do a clothes packing post too as that was in some ways more tricky to get right.

Firstly, I went through in my head what my make up essentials were, so I imagined putting my makeup on and what steps I would normally take:

Primer - I would normally apply a silicone primer before applying makeup. Did I really need this on holiday? Well, I would be wearing the makeup in a warmer climate so my skin would be oilier than normal. So I decided it was essential to take this to ensure my makeup didnt melt off in the warm weather.

Foundation - Definate essential and could not leave without it. However, this is in a huge and heavy glass bottle (thanks to Nars), so I decided to decant this into a small, plastic empty hand lotion container with a pump. If you don't happen to have any old containers (and I would always recommend when you use up a beauty product before you throw away the container decide if you can recycle it to take with you for travel or to decant products into) you can now purchase handy travel kits from Boots and even Primark which are very inexpensive.

Concealer - Definately a makeup essential as I do suffer from hyperpigmentation. I took a slightly darker shade as I knew I would pick up a tan. So even if my foundation got too light for me as I tanned, I could at the least utilise my concealer. I used my MAC NW35 which is quite deep in colour and comes in a v handy teeny little pot.

Powder - I was undecided. I could get away with not using the powder as it wasn't hugely necessary but in the end decided to take my MAC Studio Fix powder compact in my hand luggage as, if nothing else, it had a small mirror which would be pretty handy on the go.

Lipstick and lip gloss - I really didnt want to go crazy with this and decided the best option was to take just 2 lipsticks - MAC Angel and MAC Freckletone which are my top 2 nude lipsticks. I didn't think I needed to take any other colours (although I wanted to!) as realistically, I would only wear a full face of makeup on the special occasions such as the wedding and going out for a special meal or drinks in Miami. I took a neutral pinky nude lipgloss in my hand luggage.

Blush - I was really good and took just one shade - Peaches by MAC as it is very neutral peach and went with every type of look.

Eyeshadow - I only took one item - my NAKED pallete by Urban Decay! It is so travel friendly as it has a mirror, miniature urban decay primer potion and 2 colours eyepencils and all the eyeshadows I could need.

Brushes - I took my double ended Stila shadow brush as this has a small pencil tip on one end and a flat shader on the other. I took my foundation and concealer brush which is small and flat. I guess I could have done without this and used my fingers but I really love this brush and find it gives a really good finish really quickly. As theone I have has a short handle I knew I could easily fit it into my washbag. I also took a small fluffy kabuki brush as I could use this for both powder and blush.

This sounds like a lot of makeup but honestly (apart from the pallette) it all fit into a small (A5 size) zip up washbag. Even the brushes fit into it and it was not heavy at all maybe 300 grammes.

Makeup SOS!

Now let me let you into my little Makeup Crisis that I had while away. On the second part of the trip we were going on a 5 day tour to Cuzco. We would be trekking pretty much all day everyday so I decided to leave some of my stuff in the hotel in Lima and take only essentials to Cuzco. I didnt think I needed makeup (conveniently forgetting the New Years Eve party we would be going to in Cuzco)! So as I was getting ready to go to the party, I realised I had only brought the following items with me:

concealer

blush

black kohl pencil

mascara

lipgloss

double ended eyshadow brush

For a makeup junkie like me, going out to a big party, it killed me to have no foundation and no eyeshadows etc!

So I decided to be a bit creative to still achieve my smokey eye makeup.

I scooped up some concealer onto the back of my hand, and warmed it up by smooshing it with my fingers, then I mixed some moisturizer into it and basically made my own foundation! I applied with my fingers and the concealer also where I needed it and on my eyelids as a primer.

I then applied my peachy coloured blusher onto my eyelids as a neutrally eyeshadow!

I then washed my hands and rubbed my kohl pencil onto the back of my hand to warm it, then i dipped my eyeshadow brush into it and, flipping the brush upwards into my socket area and into the lashlines to create a smokey effect. I lined my eyes with the kohl pencil and applied my mascara.

I applied the blusher my taking one of those cotton wool balls they give you for free in the hotel bathroom and dabbing it into the blusher and onto my cheeks.

I finished off with lipgloss and hey presto! A passable smokey eye and nudey lip full face of makeup!

Hope this post was helpful to you!

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

Golden Globes 2011 - Top Picks

It's awards season in tinseltown at the moment, which can only mean one thing - the Red Carpet fashion! The highlight of the season has, of course, to be the Oscars, but the Golden Globes are very important also. The 2011 Golden Globes were held on 16th January 2011, and as usual I was absolutely mesmerised by the monumental displays of fashion and beauty by the hottest stars.

Trends seem to be: Emerald green gowns, sleeves (particularly full length), blush colours and up do's. For makeup, again nudey blush tones, and classic pillar box red lips and nails.

Here are my favourites from the Red Carpet:

1. January Jones from Mad Men

O. M. G. She looked phenomenal in this fringed, second-skin Versace dress in tomato red with matching lips.

2. Jennifer Lopez

Her Zuhair Murad gown is so-so, but her makeup is just perfectly frosty snow-queeny! I heart the silver smokey eyes and natural lip combo.

3. Mila Kunis

She rocked the emerald dress, along with these other uber famous brunettes Catherine Zeta Jones and Angelina Jolie.

4. Megan Fox


I know, I know.. she has kind of done this pretty blush tone dress with side swept hair thing before, but boy does she do it well! Apparently this Armani Prive dress was made especially for her, lucky girl!

5. Julianne Hough

Erm she was in Burlesque you know? Anyhoo, her Egyptian style embellished black gown is by Marchesa and is my favourite of the classic black gowns on display. And yes, I do prefer it over Eva Longoria's and Piper Perabo's choices! Note also the loose up do..

6. And the best makeup award goes to..

Eva Longoria.

Just the most flawless, cashmere matte skin, glowing peach cheeks with nude nude lips and long long lashes. WOW. However, check out Jayma May's smokey smoke eyes with flamey flame lip. One word - FIERCE! I really love strong orange lips, but am still trying to find a way to wear my NARS Casablanca lipstick, maybe the bold smokey eye is the way forwards..

Whose outfit/hair/makeup/accessories did you like the most?

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

Peru and Miami Travels - PIC HEAVY!!

Hi my Cherubitas!

Just wanted to share a few pics of my recent travels to Peru and Miami. I know this isn't necessarily beauty/fashion related, but travelling is definately one of my major passions! I love the thrill of discovering new places, cultures, sights, sounds and foods. I am entirely addicted to travelling and as many places as I have visited, there are always more places I want to go to.

South America is one of the places I have wanted to visit for some time, so when my friend told me that she and her Peruvian fiancee had decided to have their wedding in Lima, Peru, and would we like to come? Well, the answer was a "hell yeah!". She also arranged a group honeymoon tour to Cuzco and the Sacred Valley to see, amongst other amazing sights, one of the 7 wonders of the world - Macchu Picchu. It has always been my dream to trek to Macchu Picchu, as this was a group tour we didn't do the 4 day trek but took the comfortable option of the train up to the site. Apart from Macchu Picchu we saw some other awe inspiring sights in the Sacred Valley and Cuzco itself, or the Inka capital, is just the most beautiful city - the city of clouds due to the extremely high altitude. We didn't get to visit any other South America countries unfortunately, but we did have the time of our lives, with a nice little relaxation stopover in Miami on the way back.

So here are some pics (and for you beauty addicts, look out for the pics of MAC on Lincoln and Rickys NYC in Lincoln Mall), enjoy!

Macchu Picchu! Mesmerising..

Local Peruvian man

Get ready for your close up Mr Llama!

At the New Years Eve party, we enjoyed a sumptuous dinner of Alpaca meat - in case you are wondering, Alpacas are mountain goats, which look very similar to llamas, and taste like lamb!

Mr Angel5ace and I looking down at Cuzco valley

Cuddling a local kittie in a beautiful fabrics store in Cuzco..

Lima by night.

The Cardozo Hotel in Miami (Gloria Estefan owns this 1960's Art Deco boutique hotel)

MAC on Washington Avenue

Gorgeous South Beach

Me smooching a baby alligator in the Florida Everglades.. and YES it is a real live alligator!! haha!

Just chillin, Miami style..

Ricky's NYC - a really cool beauty/cosmetic supply store with all the "it" products such as the beauty blender, Chi straighteners, Japonesque lash placement tools etc

Hope you enjoyed the pictures, I certainly enjoyed the trip!

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

My Favourite Pinky Nude Lip - Update with Pic!

Hey my Cherubs!

You may recall my recent post letting you all know about my current obsession with a particular lipliner/lipstick combo to create that perfect pinky nude lip? Well I managed to locate a pic of me in Lima, Peru wearing the said lip colours (MAC Stripdown lipliner and MAC Angel lipstick). The colours have come out a little more browney in the pic than in the flesh but trust me - it is a gorgeous combo. I just ADORE Angel Lipstick at the moment and have to force myself not to neglect my other nudey/pink lip colours!

I also find that although all MAC lipsticks are fairly drying on the lips, their frost finishes (NB MAC lippies come in different finishes, "frost" being shimmery in colour and creamy and opaque in consistency), are much more moisturising than their other finishes.

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo

TTIL (Ten Things I Love) Dec '10

Sorry this is a little late due to my recent travels!

1. Famous by Sue Moxley Ingrid Copper Blusher

Sue Moxley is a UK celebrity makeup artist who has created her own line of cosmetics which are sold in Superdrug. Her eyeshadows and blushers are very smooth, soft and highly pigmented. I cannot live without her blusher in a beautiful vibrant coral/orange shade called Ingrid Copper. Here is a swatch:
Gorgeous!

2. Benefit's Erase Paste

You have probably noticed me using this alot. It is just like a peachy, gel based under eye corrector. It lightens, brightens and the orangey/peachy shade cancels out the greys in my under eye circles. I use shade no. 3.

3. Nude Shades for Winter

I am just loving pairing nude colours with more season-appropriate browns, blacks and greys this winter. Nudes in the winter can look so soft and feminine against the usual darker colours. Look at this beautiful pair of wedge nude and brown leather boots from Zara that I bought recently with the last of my birthday vouchers! Look our for my upcoming fashion haul post which focuses heavily on nude/neutral colours.

4. Velcro Rollers

I just love using velcro rollers in my hair as a cheap and easy way to create volume. I also find it much easier to get that Kardashian centre part wave thing going on that she does - see pic below how she gets her long fringe flicked back? All you need to do is grab some of the XXL velcro rollers and sectioning the front part of your hair, working back towards the crown, wrapping the hair around the rollers, spray with some extra hold spray, leave them in for at least 30 mins, create a centre part and you are good to go! Watch out for my hair tutorials coming soon!

5. Bed Head Queen for a Day Thickening Spray

Talking of hair, one of my all time favourite products for creating great volume and curls in my naturally wavy hair has to be Bed Head's queen for a day thickening spray. You can use this on wet or dry hair and it has super hold, also love the name!

6. The Outnet

Heard of Net a Porter? It is by far the best online designer shopping website at the moment. No one can touch it in terms of the sheer variety, and whoever the purchasers are, they are pure genius. How pleased, then, was I when Net a Porter launched their sister outlet site The Outnet? VERY! Check out this butterscotch colour Michael Kors satchel reduced to just £97.50.

7. Zara Home

My beautiful friend Lisa introduced me to the gorgeousness that is Zara Home. Although I had been into the store a couple of times when I lived in Dubai, the Dubai store was mostly bedding and tablecloths. The Regent Street store in Central London, however, is an absolute DREAM! Shabby Chic side tables, luxurious snow white throws in the softest cotton and sparkly crystally glassware! I ADORE Zara and just generally, the whole Inditex group - it is not difficult to see why the Spanish retail giant's business strategy is a massive success. Thier homeware is the same blend of high fashion and high quality without the high prices. They somehow manage to make the simplest napkin holders, door knobs and scatter cusions look exquisitely expensive. I cannot wait to get my own place so I have an excuse to kit the whole place out with Zara homeware!
Thank you Li Li!

8. NARS Sheer Glow Foundation

Please check out my post on how to choose foundation: www.frivolousbyangel5ace.blogspot.com/2010/11/tips-and-tricks-how-to-choose-correct.html
which gives some tips on how to choose the correct foundie for you. My favourite is of course NARS Sheer Glow in Syracuse and I just cannot tell you enough how great this foundation is. It makes my skin feel so soft and I actually enjoy applying this stuff! I haven't and don't think I ever will, find a better foundation. My HG for sure!

9. MAC Ricepaper Eyeshadow

This is the perfect highlight colour for buffing onto the tops of my cheekbones and bridge of my nose, as well as a beautiful shimmery cream eyeshadow colour that I can wear on my lids and on my browbone. I adore multi-tasking products fo' sho'.

10. Hobby Cases

Yup, you heard right. I love hobby cases. Those plastic cases which open up with a kind of shelf level with compartments. These are what I store my makeup in as I can carry them around with me and everything stays in the compartments, they are cheap and have clear lids so you can see your products all neatly compartmentalised and more importantly for me, I can store them upright on my annoyingly shallow shelves! I will try to put together a makeup organizational post soon for you guys.

xoxo Angel5ace xoxo