Beauty Roundup | NYFW

Happy LFW everyone! We're already a week into the Fashion Week period, with New York taking to the catwalks already.  My favourite thing to do over the Fashion Week period is to scour Style.com and peruse over the beauty write ups and images. There are already some great make up trends forming, here's my top three from NYFW.  

Diane Von Furstenburg

Jason Wu

Marc by Marc Jacobs and Thakoon

1.  The Colour Pop - This A/W is set to be brighter with designers favouring brighter colours, rather than the deep, berry tones we've come so accustomed too.  At Diane Von Furstenburg, MAC make up artist Karliados kept the eyes and base neutral and added a hit of neon pink to the lips using the MAC Chromographic Pencil in Process Magenta, mixed with a lip conditioner for a semi matte finish.  At Jason Wu, the colour inspiration came from the finale dress.  The base and lips were kept bare with a sweep of cobalt over the eyes.  Wu's make up artist, Diane Kendal used an inky blue pigment to begin, blending it out into the crease before adding a purple pigment to the centre of the lid for extra dimension.  Wu has created a make up line with Lancome, due out next season, and was off course featured in the make up look.  His Le Crayon Khol in Purple Dust was used on the lash line.  Other designers such as Marc by Marc Jacobs and Thakoon also sported the trend.  

Victoria Beckham

Alexander Wang

Calvin Klein Collection and Narciso Rodriguez

2.  Barely There - The 'no make up, make up' look has been around for a while, and next season is no exception.  At Victoria Beckham, make up was kept extremely stripped back; a soft base, nude lips, a no fuss eye and naked lashes.  There is a slight darkening around the crease, giving the eye more depth.  At Alexander Wang, Diane Kendal worked her magic to create a clean and polished look.  Colour was kept from the face, only using a NARS eyeshadow in Lhasa, a steel grey shade, across the lids.  With a light hand, the eyeshadow has a barely there look but finishes the look completely.  In contrast to Beckham's washed out look, gel eyeliner and mascara was used at Wang to create a thicker lash.  Calvin Klein Collection and Narciso Rodriguez also used a barely there look.  

3.1 Phillip Lim

Vera Wang

3.  Chocolate Chops and Black Forest Gateau - Dark lips are an A/W staple.  Some make up artists have been favouring the classic berry tones, whilst others have been mixing it up, creating chocolatey lips.  At 3.1 Phillip Lim, make up artist Francelle Daly created a blank canvas with the base, focussing the look on the lips.  NARS lip liner pencil in Kenya was used to line and fill the lips before applying a NARS eyeliner in Mambo on top creating a matte milk chocolate look.  Vera Wang kept it classic with a berry toned matte lip, fresh base and naked lashes.  

Marc Jacobs, Rag & Bone and Anna Sui

Jason Wu, DVF and Alexander Wang

If you're a fan of a smokey eye or a cat eye, look to Marc Jacobs, Anna Sui and Donna Karan for intense inspiration.  If Twiggy is more your thing, take a leaf out of Rag & Bone's book and use eyeliner in the crease for the ultimate 60s look.  Natural, soft waves reigned supreme over Diane Von Furstenburg, Vera Wang and 3.1 Phillip Lim's catwalks, whilst slicked back up do's featured in Alexander Wang and Jason Wu's shows.  

Have you got a favourite look from NYFW?

Compulsive, Impulsive Shopaholic

My student loan was welcomed into my bank account last week and with the rest of my Christmas money burning a hole in my back pocket, I thought a shopping trip was deserved.  Admittedly, most of my purchases were online but I also did a spot of sale shopping too! Along with online shopping, I also booked flights with my good friend Gina (check out her blog here) as we're going to Spain for 10 days in the summer!

If you follow me on Twitter, or read my blog during the week you'll already know what a couple of my purchases were, including an investment which I'm SO pleased with.  When I get my maintenance grant (the one you don't have to pay back), I always try to make sure that I invest in something that's going to benefit me, last year it was my beloved Macbook Pro.  Without further adieu...

John Lewis; Canon 1100D with 18-55mm Lens £341

My investment buy was this DSLR camera.  I've really loathed the picture quality that my point and shoot gives when I'm taking pictures for my blog.  It is a great camera to take on a night out, but when you're trying to take pictures for reviews and what not, it just doesn't do any products justice.  I'm extremely lucky to have gotten this so cheap (usually retails around £400ish), as my Auntie kindly asked her brother-in-law if we could use his staff discount! I haven't had enough time to sit and play as I've had so much uni work to complete, but I'm already noticing a difference in my pictures and learning different techniques.  

Amazon; Canon EOS Rebel T3/1100D for Dummies Book; £15

The manual I get with the camera isn't all that, so I thought I'd get this to help me out when I'm trying to do various things.  It's 400 pages long, with lots of tips and tricks to help out beginners, which is what I most definitely am...

Amazon; Decal for Kindle; £17.99

I wanted to get some kind of skin for my Kindle, so that I wouldn't scratch it when it's not in its case.  I saw these Decals on Amazon and after flicking through the different designs I came across this Paris illustration.  The application is fiddly, a bit like a screen protector on an iPhone but if you're patient with it, it goes on well.  

Lush; I Love Juicy Shampoo and American Cream Conditioner; £8-10 each

You may well recognise these from my 2012 Beauty Wish List post.  These are possibly the most gorgeous smelling products ever.  I've washed my hair using them twice now and I have to say they really linger on your hair.  Usually after blowdrying or sleeping on my hair, the products smell fades completely.  These didn't. I then straightened my hair and usually the smell is definitely gone at that point. These didn't. Amazing! Oh, and they also leave your hair squeaky clean and silky to the touch!

Love-makeup.co.uk; Sigma F80 Flat Kabuki Brush; £13.99

I finally have this infamous brush in my collection! I have wanted this brush for about 6 months now, but could never bring myself to pay the extortionate shipping fees.  I then heard about Love-makeup.co.uk and the rest is history.  A word of advice, if you see this on the website and you want it, get it in your basket ASAP as they sell out within a day!  I'd really recommend Love Makeup after my experience.  I'd heard their shipping took a while but my brush turned up next day after despatch.  I've used the F80 a couple of times now and it really does give you a flawless finish.  A full review will be up soon, no doubt.

FeelUnique.com; Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment and Deep Repair Masque; £11.50 £10.35 and £18.50

Another off of my 2012 beauty wishlist... I have only literally just received the Masque an hour or so ago .  I'm really excited to try these products as all the reviews have been rave and I've heard it beats the Moroccanoil Restorative masque in both price and product quality.  I'll get back to you on that! The oil treatment is literally filled to the top and the masque is an extremely thick, paste like conditioner that smells amazing.  These can both be used together to create an even more nourishing treatment, or separately.  

Harvey Nichols; Marc by Marc Jacobs iPhone case; £30 £15

One of my sale bargains.  I recently had to purchase a new phone as my Blackberry became extremely difficult to use, it would crash on a daily basis and the Blackberry company itself went down AGAIN but not for as long as the first time.  I was fed up and got myself a refurbished iPhone 3GS to hold me over until my contract is up in September.  I bought this case in the sale as I always wanted a Marc Jacobs case.  

House of Fraser; Benefit Porefessionally Pretty £23.50 and Stella by Stella McCartney Eau de Parfum £36.50 £18.25

Oh Benefit, how I love thee.  I have wanted Porefessional for a while and while I was walking around I noticed the gift set on the shelf. Immediately I thought that it would be about £35 knowing what Benefit can be like when they add a couple of samples but when I heard it was £23.50 (same price as just Porefessional on it's lonesome) I knew it was fate and I must buy it. I then saw Stella and the 50% sale sticker that was on her box.  I've been lusting after this for a while as a nice everyday scent. 

Sainsburys; Gok Wan for Tu Satin Shirt; £25 £12.50

I've always had my eye on a few of Gok's pieces in Sainsburys, after it was launched in September/October time.  It was definitely fate that I found it today, the only one left in my size. I think the colour is gorgeous and will look great with some black leggings and boots.  I also think the collar is a bit different, a lot larger than the average and far pointier! 

Matalan; Be Beau Teal Chiffon Shirt; £14

I have a thing for chiffon shirts (and shirts in general), if you hadn't guessed by now.  This 3/4 length beauty caught my eye in Matalan, a place I rarely shop.  I picked this up for  a bargain price and know it's the type of top I'll wear to death.   

So that's why my Christmas money and some of my student loan went towards.  Have you picked up any bargains in the sales?

Fashionable Phone Accessories

I know, I've been a bit absent in the past week, what with a stupid amount of work all at once but I have just finished this weeks hand in and thought I'd celebrate with a blog post! Recently I've made the decision to buy out my Blackberry contract and get the new iPhone.  

I should have gone for an iPhone when my contract was up last year but I didn't and ever since the problem (you know the one where you could use your phone for 3 days?!) I've resented my Berry.  I wont be getting the phone until January (hello student loan) and I'm hoping T Mobile will give me a good deal as I still have 9/10 months left on the current contract.  Anyway, enough with the rambling.  I have been looking at phone cases (as you do 2 months in advance...) and realised that designer accessories are not actually that expensive.  The two I've looked at are DVF (of course) and Marc by Marc Jacobs.  

DVF

£25.00

I really like this case but I wish it came in more colours and with different quote choices because Diane has some really good ones!

£38.00

I love DVFs prints, these phone cases are slightly more expensive but from a choice of 5 they are gorgeous. 

£18.00

I think I fell in love the moment I saw these... Might have to buy them as a christmas present to myself!

Marc by Marc Jacobs

£30.00

I think this will be the phone case I get.  I was really shocked at the price.  Cath Kidston cases are about £25.00 each, so for an extra fiver you get a designer case.  These come in about 4 shades but obviously pink will win for me!

£30.00

I like this design but I hate silicone cases.  I have one for my iPod Touch at the moment and it constantly falls off.  If this came in plastic I might be swayed towards it.  

£30.00

This is one of two different phone cases - Miss Marc.  The other is Mr Marc. I think she's pretty cute but I want something simple and chic.  

Marc also does some really cute affordable jewellery which thanks to FleurDeForce, I was introduced to yesterday in this video.  

What are your thoughts and where do you fall in the big Blackberry - iPhone debate?

ALSO - I will be at the Handpicked Media Social on Monday 21st - will any of you be there? It would be nice to put faces to names!