Daniel Sandler Perfect Canvas Foundation Review

Although it is slow moving, I AM still planning on setting up my own business this year (as laid-out in my New Years' Resolution post) and unsurprisingly, it will involve makeup! So, I've been trying out a few different brands which I wouldn't normally have purchased from and Daniel Sandler has been one of them. If you don't know about Daniel Sandler then you're missing out, because he is a top makeup artist with his own line of makeup products which are every blogger's dream! His Watercolour Blushes are currently on most bloggers' must-buy lists if not already a much-loved product in their makeup kit. I'm yet to purchase one, but they're on the top of my list for when I get back from my travels...

Anyway, I decided to buy a variety of foundation colours to try out and thankfully, Daniel Sandler's website was offering these little 15ml pots for just £2.50 from £9.50! What a bargain eh? I've only photographed seven, but I actually bought eight... the eighth is in my makeup bag as I am absolutely in love with it.

*I purchased shades 20, 17, 14, 10, 8 (not shown), 7, 6 and 4*

Can You Wear Glitter in Spring? Topshop Glitters...

I'm loving the fact that Spring fashions are slowly seeping onto the shop floors, really I am. But something inside me misses the glitters which covered our Winter 2012 fashions, so I thought I'd throw together this sparkly little blogpost as a review AND a reminisce. 

I managed to snap these Topshop glitters up in the sales in January and although I'm not 100% sure how I will be using them, I can't help myself from twisting the top of them periodically just to watch them twinkle! 

*So pretty!*

The loose powders come in these little pots with sprinkle tops attached (like you get in talcum powder). However, I took the sprinkle tops off as they just get in the way as far as I'm concerned! I got all four of these powders for just £4 and I think they are so gorgeous...

Ted Baker Goodies

Just a couple of months ago I reviewed Ted Baker's Workshop Accessories line here so they reached out to me to say, "Thank You". I think that is so sweet because brands don't often offer thanks when you write nice things about them... its something which would be so easy for them to do, and yet, as not many of them do it, those that do really stand out. On top of the, "Thank You" email, they asked me to send them my home address, so on Thursday, I received this lovely package in the post...

*Even the box is luxurious!* 

Creative Writing... Five-Minute Fridays: Cherished

I spotted a hashtag recently on Twitter called '#FMFParty' and as I hate not being invited to a party, I decided to click and find out what I was missing out on. I am so glad I clicked on the hashtag now! Basically, the deal is simple, every Friday, LisaJo Baker posts a prompt word on her blog for us all to whip up a bit of creative writing about. You only get five minutes to write and you aren't allowed to go back or change anything. It is kind of a stream-of-consciousness writing challenge which I love! I've loved writing since I was a very little girl and it is something which I practice regularly, especially as I'd like to try and get a novel published before the time I am 23... a bit ambitious I know, but that gives me just over a year so maybe I can manage. Plus, a bit of ambition never hurt anyone. Anyway, on with the challenge. The word we have been provided with is 'Cherished' so here goes...

How To Use Up Skincare Samples...

I'm forever receiving tiny skincare samples from fab companies in the post, but without sounding ungrateful, they clutter up my room something rotten! This doesn't usually bother me unless I know that each of the samples are right towards the end of their use... they don't have much product remaining in the tube and I am struggling to squeeze the remains out. So what do I do? Create a SUPER-PRODUCT, that's what!

I had a couple of empty pots left over from previous products, so I washed them out and decanted a mixture of products into them. My favorite pot at the moment has the products above in it and it is currently working wonders for my skin!

HauteFuture Now Offers Advertising!

That's right my lovelies, HauteFuture is now offering advertising on this page for just £2 a month! After paying via PayPal all you have to do is email me your button, preferably in the same size as the lovely Lucy from Louminous has done recently and I will pop it on the side of my page with a link back to your page. The order in which the advertiser's buttons will be placed will be decided basically on the order that people pay for their advertising.

Just so y'all know, if you go on my blog, you are exposed to between 14,000 and 17,000 unique visitors each month!

So what are you waiting for? It's first come, first served... Let the advertising begin!

Love and snuggles
GabriellaSofia

New Year's Resolution: Travel Update

On the 31st of December 2012, I posted about all of my New Year's Resolutions (as most bloggers do) but I didn't want to just post what my resolutions are. I think the best way of making sure we succeed in resolutions is by recording our progress, so my first resolution, to get my passport stamped in at least three countries I have never been to before, is the first resolution which I would like to update you all on...

I'm going to India and Thailand in February. There, I said it. I am shocked that I have managed to part-finish one of my resolutions so soon in the year! Particularly when in it is going to cost me about £2500 of my savings to do it as I don't have a job at the moment. Then again, you only live once (#yolo) and I'm only 21... I have an entire lifetime to stress out about money and work my butt off. I always say, there's loads of money out there just waiting to be earned, so carpe diem, live for the day.

*Eating Pizza on the Grand Canyon... More times like these please... just in India and Thailand!*

So what's my plan? Where am I going? Who am I going with?

GabriellaSofia's 2012 Holy Grail of Beauty... Part 4

Welcome back for the fourth and final instalment of Hautefuture's Beauty Awards or my 2012 Holy Grail of Beauty. So let's get on with it...

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Cleanser...

In First Place... Liz Earle's Hot Cloth Cleanser is winner for 2012. It is really gentle whilst simultaneously exfoliating my skin and opening up my pores. The best way to wash my face in 2012 was with this genius product.
Must Buy In 2013... I really want to try some Origins skincare and they do a foaming wash which is my kind of thing. Also, I want to invest in a Clarisonic Mia... or a cheaper alternative. Does anyone know of a cheap version I can buy?

GabriellaSofia's 2012 Holy Grail of Beauty... Part 3

Fancy seeing you here! Back for Part 3 of my 2012 Holy Grain of Beauty? Well, welcome! I've really enjoyed choosing my favourite products for these awards but I'm even more excited about the products which I am hoping to but in 2013. Its great being able to write my Must Buy list on my blog so I can't forget what I am saving up for. Anyway, let's see what other products are on my 'Re-Purchase For 2013' list...

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Eye Liner...

In First Place... I am actually really disappointed with 2012 in terms of eye liner. I have tried many and thought they were fine, but not a single product has really stood out to me this year. Even my beloved Fabuliner felt-tip liner by INCOLOUR in the USA didn't cut the mustard this year as it has been fading and transferring to my upper-lid. Other products which haven't set my loins alight include Maybelline's Eye Studio Lasting Drama Gel Liner, Benefit's BadGAL, Soap and Glory's Smoulder Kohl and Barry M's Liquid Liner. Disappointing.
Must Buy In 2013... I just need a good eye-liner that won't transfer to my upper-lid or melt in the outer corners of my eyes. Any suggestions?

GabriellaSofia's 2012 Holy Grail of Beauty... Part 2

Thanks for coming back to HauteFuture for Part 2 of my 2012 Beauty Awards (also known as my 2012 Holy Grail of Beauty!) Without much further ado...

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Bronzer...

In First Place... This year I have really learned how to contour my face with bronzer and my best ally in this has been my Hoola bronzer by Benefit. It is really quite dark, but bronzer should be used sparingly and in layers anyway, so it doesn't need to be dark at all.
Must Buy In 2013... People RAVE about NARS Laguna bronzer so this year I think I'm going to bite the bullet and add it to my collection.

GabriellaSofia's 2012 Holy Grail of Beauty... Part 1

Happy New Year everyone! I'm hoping you all celebrated with your friends and family and are super-excited about 2013, because I sure am. I don't quite know why... I just have a FEELING about this year.

Anyway, I wanted to do a post like this last year, but never got round to it, so here it is, my Beauty Holy Grail for 2012! In some categories I've also listed items which fell into my Bad Books in 2012 and some beauty products which I'm looking forward to in 2013. So sit back, relax, and let the good times roll.

A Somewhat Belated Merry Christmas and Haul...

Merry Christmas beauties!

I know I'm slightly late wishing you a Merry Christmas, but what are you going to do about it? I was too busy scoffing all the treats my Dad bought, looking through all of my brilliant presents and drinking myself into merriness. So I'm sure you can let me off for not posting on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day or Boxing Day... can't you?

*Proof of the scoffing...*

Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, How Lovely Are Your Branches...

Call us crazy, but my family and I put up our Christmas tree on the 25th of November this year. We usually like to get it up (oo-er) on the first weekend of December, but as we're going on a weekend away to Brighton and London during that weekend and the following weekend is The Clothes Show, we just figured we'd rather get it up (and I repeat, OO-ER) sooner rather than later...

Usually we go for a really tall tree but this year we decided to go with a slightly shorter one as it usually stands beside our sofa which covers the bottom part. That means we're usually spending an extra £20 for the part of the tree we can't even see! This year, I chose a tree which must be a couple of feet at least shorter than we would normally choose as I had an idea that we could stand it on a little table in the corner of our living room. Genius.

We have gone with the same colour scheme as last year as it matches our furniture, lampshades and curtains... So we got out our fairy lights, our purple and gold baubles, our sparkly gold snowflakes, the gold angel's hair and the all important gold star and set to decorating! Here's the end result:

Although putting the tree on a table was a good idea, my Mom didn't like how the table looked, so we draped a red and green table cloth over it at first. We've since changed this for a gold sheet because the table cloth didn't match.

My December Planned...

Hello lovelies,

So I know I haven't been as devoted to my lovely blog as much as I should have been over the past few months, but that would be primarily because I have been so busy with work, my boyfriend and my family that I've barely found a moment to breath! However, my temporary contract as a Recruitment Consultant at Phones 4u finishes on the 21st of December and as I've saved most of my holidays for the end of my contract, I only actually have four full days in the office before I finish for good. This, combined with the face the it is December and there are tons of fun bloggables coming up, means that you will be seeing many more posts within the next month or so. I just wanted to let you know what to expect so here my December plan...

1st December - I'm going to Brighton with my parents, sister and boyfriend for the day. I've never been before, but I hear the shopping is pretty awesome down there in terms of kitschy one-offs so I'm hoping to get quite a bit of Christmas shopping done... I've never been to the coast in winter, so that should be fun.

*Brighton at Christmas*

2nd December - My family, boyfriend and I will be in London for the day, so I'm hoping to have a mooch around Carnaby Street and Harrods as I'm sure the Christmas decorations will be beautiful...

*Carnaby Street at Christmas*

5th December - The annual Bullring Selfridges Christmas Bloggers Event will be taking place in Birmingham. So I've booked off work from about 12.45pm and I'm hoping to nip into Tony and Guy or Umberto Giannini for a trim and blow dry in preparation.

*Me at last year's Selfridges bloggers event*

7th December - I've booked this off work as I will be going to my graduation at the University of Birmingham. After I've graduated, my family and I are all going to eat some place lovely in Birmingham. Nom gobble.

*The University of Birmingham in the snow...*

8th December - The Clothes Show Live have kindly offered me a press pass for the event, so I will be taking the train to the NEC in Birmingham and watching the fashion shows and (hopefully) purchasing a lot of beauty bits... expect a haul video!

*Eeeeeeeep... can't wait for the Barry M stall!*

9th December - I'll be taking the train down to London as I'm going to be spending three days working in the Phones 4u Tottenham Court Road store so that I can get a feel for the field that I have been recruiting for. I'll be checking into my hotel and grabbing some dinner before settling down for an early night in preparation for my three hard-working days in a bustling retail store at the busiest time of year.

*I haven't worked in retail for ages... I can't wait for my Phones 4u store experience!*

10th December - Working at Phones 4u and maybe hooking up for some dinner and drinks with my friend Louise.

11th December - Working at Phones 4u and maybe hooking up for some dinner and drinks with my friend Jayne.

12th December - Working at Phones 4u and going for a mooch around the shops at night before returning to my hotel for the a good night's sleep so that I'm not TOTALLY exhausted for my trek back to Stoke-on-Trent the following morning.

13th December - I will be journeying back to Stoke-on-Trent. I'll be back in the office for a couple of hours before leaving at 3.15pm as I've booked the rest of that afternoon off as holiday.

17th December - The Phones 4u Recruitment and Development Christmas Conference will be held from 9.30am at some swanky Carden Park in Chester. The evening will be full of dinner, drinks and merriment.

*Doesn't Carden Park just look lovely?*

24th December - I will be going to church with my lovely boyfriend and my family if they wish to come, followed by eating a delicious meal at home of ham and pork and potato salad and all kinds of yumminess! Before going to bed I will be allowed to open one present which Santa Claus has dropped off a day early. It will be pyjamas. Without fail.

25th December - Christmas Day is always my favourite day of the year. It is the one day out of the whole year where calories really don't count. We are having my Grandma and Grandad round for Christmas this year, so it should be a right jolly old feast. NOM.

*Me last year on Christmas Day*

So those are the major plans I have so far... However, I've also booked the 14th, 19th, 20th and 21st off work and would ideally like to take those days to go to the Birmingham Christmas market, the Trafford Centre and Trentham Gardens. Plus, I haven't been clubbing in months and even though I don't usually enjoy it that much, I feel like I miss it a little, so I'm going to try and get a night out in before Christmas and maybe even one on New Year's Eve if my boyfriend, sister and friends fancy it...

As you can see, I will be a busy bee. However, I fully expect to have enough time and content to blog throughout December...

What are your plans for the festive season? Have you done all of your Christmas shopping yet? Is your Christmas wardrobe planned? I'm having a nightmare trying to think of what to wear for all of these busy busy days!

Love and snuggles
GabriellaSofia
x

Outfit of the Day: Christmas Fayre

Hello festive bunnies!

Here's a cute winter outfit for ya'll... Could have done with a scarf as I spent most of the day freezing my nick-nacks off but you know, we all get it wrong sometimes...

I always love to get excited about Christmas far too early and this year has been no exception! My family decided to throw together a Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday and ever since then I'm in a really super-festive mood, so it was rather convenient that my old school was running their annual Christmas fayre this weekend. My boyfriend, his mother and I threw on our gladrags (in my case, a red bodycon from Forever 21, my sisters Topshop Tinie Tempah vest, her Topshop coat, my navy Dorothy Perkins tights and my khaki Forever 21 booties) and braced ourselves for smashing the tombola...

And we did :)

We managed to get all of this for just £17!!!

Not bad eh? I think it will become a bit of a Christmas tradition to us as we probably won't need to buy another bottle of wine until the New Year... CLEARED UP :) One of these bottles was worth £10 from Morrisons and another was worth £7. Most of them were worth over £4 so we saved quite a wedge of money. Great success.

I have lots of blog-related Christmas plans so stay tuned over the festive season as I will be working hard to do regular posts.

Do you have any Christmas traditions? What have you been wearing in the colder months? Would you have hated us for winning most of the bottles on the tombola table?

Love and snuggles

GabriellaSofia

x

Blog Sale: Topshop, Abercrombie and Fitch, Miss Selfridge, Delia's, Gap, Forever 21, American Eagle and River Island

Hello Cheeky Bunnies :)

So I could do with making a bit of money at the moment because I'm planning another travelling excursion. On top of all that, I did a serious hunt through all of my clothes (as my room is full of them!) and realized I have so many items which deserve good owners who will give them the wearing they well and truly deserve... As much as it kills me, these are the first few items which I am going to sell:

My Size 10 Gap Shorts are really nice and good quality. However, they are a little big for me... to be honest, I'd say they are closer to a size 12, which is why I've listed them as such. I tried them on a couple of times but never wore them because they were a little too baggy. My friend tried them on once and I was amazed by how they can hug the right body in all the best places... her big butt looked great in them! The bids start at £0.99.

I'd always wanted a pair of these Topshop Hot Pants so I snapped them right up in the sale. Sadly, these too ended up being closer to a size 12 than a 10 so didn't fit me like I wanted them to. They are sexy with a relatively high waist and they show a nice bit of butt cheek if you have the right figure :P The bids start at £0.99.

These Grey Short Shorts from American Eagle would look awesome with a crisp white t-shirt and flip-flops or gladiator sandals. Once again, these shorts were slightly too big for me, so would fit a size 12 comfortably... Are you sensing a pattern here? I have a thing about girls with big butts in short shorts haha :) They are super flattering and show off the curves which you know you have! Bidding starts at £0.99.

This Abercrombie and Fitch Denim Mini Skirt is one of the things which hurts me the most to get rid of, as every time I've seen it in my drawer I've wanted to wear it, and I've tried it on a few times. However, it has just been one of those things I've never got round to wearing so I've decided enough is enough and I'm sure there is someone out there who would wear it as often as it deserves! This skirt would fit a UK size 10 the best and would look great with some sky-scraper wedges on a holiday. The bidding starts at £0.99.

I feel like a stuck record but these Yellow Floral Delia's Shorts were such beauties when I spotted them in the States but they just don't fit right :( These are for girls with a size 10 waist and a size 12 butt as they felt a little loose on me. I love the intricate floral design though and they would look great with a pair of booties and a blazer for winter. Unsurprisingly, the bidding starts at just £0.99.

These Miss Selfridge Floral Denim Shorts are just too cute. I'm just gutted to be selling these but they just don't fit :( I tried on the size 10 in store and they were a little too snug so just went ahead and purchased the 12's but when I got them home I found them too large. Its a real shame because I thought they'd look great for festivals this summer with wellies, but it just never happened :( The bidding starts at £0.99.

This Lacy Topshop Crop Top looked absolutely gorgeous on the hanger in store, but as a bigger busted lady I have to admit it really wasn't very flattering for me as it just made my boobs look overwhelming! Its a great item for a chick wanting to draw more attention up-top though as it gives the impression of a bigger bust. Plus, the lacy embroidery is just so cute. It will fit a size 10 best. Bids start at £0.99. 

This Floral Cotton Mini Dress from Topshop is so comfy as a simple throw-over during the summer. It looks equally good with heels and a denim jacket for the evening though. It will fit a size 10 best as the elastic waist can make things a little uncomfortable as it could cut into anyone bigger. I've never worn this but was always saving it for a day when my legs would be brown... Sad times! The bidding starts at £0.99

This little Topshop White Lace Vest Top is one of those things that I've bought in the pas thinking, 'Ahhh that will look amazing with skinny jeans' and in the heat of all the excitement I forgot one major thing... I DON'T WEAR JEANS. Idiot brains. Anyway, it will fit a size 12 the best, but looks cute and slouchy on a size 10 frame too. The bidding starts at £0.99.

As you can see this Pastel Green River Island Top actually still has its tag attached because once upon a time I thought I had a belly worth showing off... Whoops! HAHAHA :) Just kidding, we all know tops like this look awesome with high waisted skirts, shorts and jeans but to be honest, its just not my style... I've never owned anything in this colour before and don't really know how to work it. I'm sure you can though! Will be comfiest on a size 10 but would suit a size 12 too. Bidding starts at £0.99 

This Full Topshop Mini Skirt can be so adorable with a tiny cropped t-shirt, a belt and heels. The reddy-pinky polka dots MAKE this skirt worth wearing. Plus its really short which automatically makes it sexy, but with it being quite a full skirt too it moves in an amazing way... You all know the feeling you used to get when you spin and your skirt flies up and you feel like a naughty princess... that's the feeling you'll get with this skirt on. It will fit a size 10 most comfortably. Start your bids at £0.99.

Another one of my favourites, especially for autumn/winter, is this Forever 21 Floral Mini Skirt. I bought it in the States last summer and literally forgot I had it. It will fit a size 10 perfectly and looks good with an autumn coloured blazer (I know this because that is how the mannequin was dressed in store!) Wish I had clothes to wear with this :( Start the bidding at £0.99

This Purple Jersey Skirt from Topshop is great to pull on over a bikini on your holidays. I bought it about a year before I went on my next holiday though, so by the time I was next by the beach my style had changed. If I was to wear it I'd probably go with a plain white t-shirt, a pale denim boyfriend shirt and a pair of white pump shoes. The skirt would be most comfortable for a size 10. And you've guessed it... the bids start at (any guesses?) £0.99

My boyfriend nearly died when I emptied my carboot into his house telling him I had 'a few bits to sell on eBay' bless him! He literally stood with his hand over his mouth shaking his head saying, 'Are you selling on eBay or moving in???' (which I should discuss with him really because he shouldn't be so concerned about that concept really... but that's a topic for another blog post entirely!) And yet, I knew I had to get rid of these things, so please if you can help take them off my hands in any way it would be really much appreciated! Each of the items are in very good condition (I take good care of my clothes... they are my babies!) and they are all clean. Also, if you decide to purchase any of these bits on eBay please send me pics of you wearing them because I'm really interested to see how you would style them up! This is my first ever eBay selling experience, so let's make it a good one...

Have you had much luck selling on eBay in the past? Can you think of a more profitable way of getting rid of unworn clothes? Do you see anything you like here?

To buy, please click on any of the links above and please keep an eye out for my next Blog Sale blog post which should be up in about a week. Happy bidding!

Love and snuggles

GabriellaSofia

Style Icon: Mona Lisa Vito

Helloooooo-ha!

First things first, have you ever watched the 1992 comedy film My Cousin Vinny? If the answer to this is no, then quick, hurry. Download it onto your laptop and be prepared for your sides to split over good, clean, comedy (bar the odd 'effword'). Now, aside from the hilarity of this film, another top reason to watch My Cousin Vinny is my ultimate number one girl crush of all time, Marisa Tomei as Mona Lisa Vito.

Her attitude, her eyebrows, her outfits... what is not to love? Mona Lisa Vito is a New York Italian chick with leathers, velvets and skin-tight cottons as her go to fabrics which could not be better for this chilly autumn-winter. Plus, Mona Lisa Vito, like me, is almost always over-dressed, so I think I could wear her look quite well as a similarly dark-haired feminist. 

*A modern day version of this would have a black bodycon skirt and sky high black wedges; monochrome shoulder-pad jacket non-optional!* 

*Check out the shades and hoop earrings. This woman seriously knows how to accesorize.*

*A bright red blazer, matching lipstick and larger than life roses surrounding her neck down into her cleavage is so Mona Lisa Vito! Just throw in a kick-ass facial expression and you have my heroine. Love Love Love.*

*I want this jumpsuit... and the body to go with it please.*

Isn't her hair great? I desperately want a white streak through my own hair now...*

*Even in her jimjams Mona Lisa looks beautiful... Lip stain, mascara and dark eyebrow pencil are probably all that is needed to look as attractive as Mona Lisa Vito... I wish.*

Luckily, I've realized that the best place on the high street (also known as a little place called Topshop) has tons of items which would contribute to a Mona Lisa Vito look... Now all I have to do is save for the following pieces:

£89 Ombre Faux Mongolian Coat 

£26 Lace Roll Neck Crop Top

£85 Baroque Skinny Jeans...

£10 Skinny Polo Crop... 

£80 Embellished Boots...

£65 Fringe Devore Kimono

£180 Limited Edition Embellished Bodycon Dress...

£8 Lips in Beguiled...

£180 Cross Embroidered Biker Jacket...

Who is your autumn-winter style crush at the moment? Have you ever seen My Cousin Vinny before? Which of these pieces is your absolute favorite? The embellished boots are the top of my to-buy list at the moment!

Love and snuggles

GabriellaSofia

x