Make up favourites of 2011

I don't really do reviews on the site much less make up but I have a few items I use daily and really love that I thought I would share with you.

1. Bourjois Detox foundation in 51 (the lightest shade) is a highly pigmented contains no silicones and gives quite high coverage without being a mask. It doesn't need powder on top (my skin is quite oily). If my skin is good I mix it with Garnier BB Cream for a more glowing look in the summer when it is a bit drier. I have used Clinique superfit, Clinique even better, Lancome Teinte Idol Ultra, Lancome Teinte Idol Silky Matt, and Chanel ProLumiere. Only superfit and prolumiere did not oxidise on my skin. Superfit I would continue to use if I hadn't found this Detox and ProLumiere is too dark for my skin even in the lightest shade. I have great difficulty in finding a foundation that does not turn orange after 10-15 minutes on my skin (oxidization) and that does not contain silicones (brings me out in giant cystic spots). Neither look is attractive.

2. Chanel Les 4 Ombres in 19 Enigma

As you can see this quad has a pink shade, 2 taupes and one purple. I have used this palette 80% of the time over the last year. I adore it.

At first the shadows were hard to use and I didn't get much colour payoff (as seen in the faint swatch on my hand) however the more I have used them the better the colour payoff (bottom swatch) I believe this is because they are baked. I have read that you can get better pigmentation scratching them when you first get them. I didn't do that I used Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer which helped and I continue to use as it helps with longevity. The pink is a great pink, most pinks make me look like I have been crying but this is a perfect light pink which acts as a good base of the other colours. I just looked this up for price and it is £37. I just noticed this was part of the Fall 2010 collection so I feel like I should get a back up quickly in case they stop making them!

3. Clinique Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder £25 for 25g.

I use this when my skin is bad and very red. You warm a little powder in your hands and rub it on your face. I found it to be very effective and quicker than using a brush. I really reduces the urge to use a lot of foundation when you skin is red, spotty and generally annoyed. It's a lightweight product which does what it is supposed to. I bought this on a whim and I am so glad I did. I have used Clinique loose powders before and they all have a great lightweight texture just like this one. 


4. Love, Chloe Eau de Parfum 

I got a 30ml bottle for my birthday in September 2010 and bought the gift set in January 2011 Sales - the picture shows the 50ml bottle from the giftset and the 30ml box so you can see the packaging. I love this perfume. It smells AMAZING. I could wear it everyday. I have a few others I wear but none that I love as much. I can't describe perfume properly but I like this because it has a powdery quality and is not sweet. Other perfumes I like are Chanel Allure, Chanel No 5, Dior J'dore and Gucci Flora. I also love the original Chloe but that doesn't have the same moreish powderyness that I love about Love, Chloe. 

5. L'oreal Lash Architech 4D - Love this I don't have any pics but it is amazing. I have good length, thick and naturally curled lashes so everyone always asks what mascara I use and before I tried this it was Lancome hypnose but sorry Lancome L'oreal have beaten you hands down now.  I bought 2 Lancome Doll Eyes mascara with some christmas money as they were £13 each with a mini eyeliner and eye make up remover but I kind of regret it now. L'oreal is better especially for the price (about £10)


So there you have my favourite non-nail products of 2011. I bought each and every one with my own go to work get paid money and I would happily buy them all again. In fact I did I bought Detox foundation again today from Boots and got a free mascara too. 


Hope you all have a great new year. I think 2012 is going to be an exciting and fantastic year. I will be starting my own business as a nail technician so hopefully I will have lots of customers nail art to show you, more than there has been lately. 

I love my puppy but she sure eats into my nail painting time :D, she is growing fast though and I will miss those days soon. I love the picture of her above because she is so tiny and because the brown mark on her side looks like a bone to me :D She still has the mark but it's not quite such a good bone shape anymore :D
Thanks for visiting my blog and if you would like to win the scrapbook software you will probably win as no one has entered yet!!

I wish you all a very happy and prosperous new year! 
Love Stacie xoxox

Merry Christmas MyMemories Giveaway

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you all have a great day and father Christmas brings you what you want :D

I have been given a copy of MyMemories Suite (worth $39.95) to try for free and also a copy to give away to one lucky reader. I have tried the software and it is a very easy to use interface with a good selection of papers, textures and embellishments included. Here's the site if you would like to have a look MyMemories . There is the option to buy additional paper and embellishment packs. I have made my mum 2 scrapbooks to date and she loves them. I am currently scanning and the family photos to make into a photobook so we have a good duplicate and the photos don't get lost or spoilt over time. 

The software has some photo editing parts, you can add effects such as sepia and add drop shadows. It is really easy to drag and drop the ribbons and buttons around the page and create interesting titles and text boxes. I don't think I have scratched the surface with this software, I know it will be great for whipping up a lovely personalised birthday card - handy when you can't get to the shops create and print instead!! You can see the main features of the website here

Here are a couple of the layouts I have done of my Florrie and Bluebell. To make them you click create album, chose a theme, chose the number of pages and pick your photos it does the rest so is great for novices. You can also do individual pages from scratch if you want to get more creative.

If you would like to win this software you must:

Either follow me on GFC or Twitter

You get one entry for each and also additional entries if you blog, tweet, tumble or have me on your blog roll

You must comment below with your:
GFC name
email address
twitter name
links to the posts or tweets. 

This is open internationally :D
edited to add I forgot to put a closing date!! Entries must be submitted by 10th January 2012 and the winner will be announced on 13th January 2012.

	This is the code to save $10 mentioned in the banner STMMMS10117 please check it has worked before you pay and if it doesn't work please let me know BEFORE you pay. I might be able to get different codes but I CANNOT refund money as I do not work for the company.

Snowflake nail art

As you may or may not have noticed I haven't been posting much for the last few months. I have been studying to learn Gel nail enhancements. I have loved the course it's been really good but I have spent a lot of time practicing and studying. Once component of the course was to create a french manicure as the body of the nail rather than just polish on top. I did this a few weeks ago and have only had time to post it now!!

I used acrylic paint to paint on the snowflakes and finished it off with a very light coat of Models Own Juicy Jules.
This is the first time I have used acrylic paint for my designs. I likes that you can create very very fine lines with it - polish is thicker but it melds better with the polish around it so gives a different look.

Now I am a qualified to do manicures and gel nail enhancements. Very exciting. Now I've got to get my workspace ready for the public and I'll be off :D Can wait until after christmas though.
Stacie xoxox