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 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.

Review: benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion...

I have been hunting for new products to add to my clearly WRONG skincare routine recently, so I was very excited when I received this little benefit sample in the post. I have always loved benefit cosmetics with a fiery passion, but this was the first time I ever tried one of their skincare products...

I love the word 'Emulsion'. I don't know why, it just sounds really gooey and cool. Anyway, the benefit Triple Performing Facial Emulsion is an oil-free formula (which I expected to be fab on me as I get unsightly breakouts occasionally) which hydrates, protects and comforts the skin whilst also offering an SPF of 15. 

I found the formula to be very thin when I squirted a little out on my hand. It almost ran straight off! When I applied it to my face, I soon realized that a little goes a very long way with this product. I found it to be very lightweight while it was on. However, I found throughout the day that my skin looked really quite greasy and my battle throughout the day to keep my face looking matte worked only to make the layer-upon-layer of powder foundation I had applied appear cakey and gross. 

On the other hand, I used this product before bed one night and found that it worked perfectly as a hydrating overnight mask as I woke up in the morning with the smoothest skin ever. Of course I had to cleanse the residue from my face in the morning, but what was left beneath was the loveliest butter soft skin that I think I've ever experienced! I have only just run out of this product after about a week and a half of using it (which just goes to show how your £19.50 stretches in the value for money) and as soon as I get paid I am investing in this as an overnight face cream. That said, I would not advise using this as a daytime cream in spite of the fact that the SPF properties are no use at night, I just don't think it is worth it considering the amount of powder I used that day... However, everyone's skin is different, so maybe try popping into benefit and asking for a sample to see how you get on?

Have you tried any of the benefit skincare line yet? Do you know of any cheaper alternatives to benefit's Facial Emulsion? What do you think about benefit branching into skincare?

Love and kisses

GabriellaSofia

x

Haute Future Beauty Tutorial Everyday Make-up Look...

Thought I'd do a relatively simple makeup look for you guys today as I'm heading out to do some pretty standard daily tasks and I had enough time to film this morning so there you go! I've recently been wearing this look as it's quick and easy to do whilst also looking KIND OF natural. At first I felt a bit weird not wearing eyeliner but I think it gives a much fresher effect and means I don't get melted black prints on my upper lids due to the uncharacteristically hot weather we've been enjoying in the UK recently.

What makeup look do you have at this time of year? Do you think contouring is a bit too done for the hot weather? Is it bizarre to you that I shade in my eyebrows?

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Love
gabriellasofia x

Outfit of the Day 26th May Summer Gig...

I'm sure you all know the feeling Hautettes, you are attending an event to which you would usually know EXACTLY what to wear. However, the seasons have changed and the outfit which would have been suitable would no longer make sense. On top of all that, you have nothing that would be ideal for the event.

So I had this problem just yesterday as my parents had organised for their staff (they run The Hippy Hippy Shake Company milkshake bars in the Stoke-on-Trent area) to get together at the gig of one of my favourite local bands, 3's A Riot. Since I was hoping to run into some friends which I'd made at the HippyHaze music festival which my father put on over Easter, I wanted a fab outfit. I attended a lot of gigs over the winter season as I helped my dad scout for bands, and my Gig Uniform was usually a tight black bodycon skirt, tights, boots, a simple t-shirt and my leather jacket. However, during this heat-wave tights and leather are totally unthinkable. Also, I don't like wearing boots in summer because my feet get too hot and I'd rather be able to show of my cute painted toe nails! So you'd think, 'Simples, bodycon skirt, sandals and a t-shirt.' However, when you're as short as me you NEED a heel, and wearing heels without tights with a bodycon look a tad too i'moutonthepullclubbinganyonewanttogetlucky for a rock gig. Not the look I was going for.

Naturally, I headed out to our local Outfit which stocks Arcadia Group stores such as Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Warehouse and more, in order to find a fix for the event. This is what I settled on... 

I love wearing dark colours to gigs but since the weather is so lush recently I didn't think it would be appropriate to dress totally dark. SO, I invested in this very pale pink/nude/peach skirt from Miss Selfridge which was £35 (doesn't it remind you of a ballet costume?) and paired it with this cute little crop-top from the same place for £18. £18 sounds like a lot of money for a little piece of cotton, but to be honest it's been really hard to find bralets which a) fit and b) are flattering to my figure because I am cursed with rather large breasts. I managed to grab my jewelry out of the sale section for Freedom at Topshop, getting the choker and matching bracelet combo for a steal at £4 from £12, and I also took it upon myself to give the newly popular 'ear cuffs' a chance as I found one for just £1.50 reduced from £6.50 for no reason. I wasn't sure if I'd like the ear cuff as I thought it might be a bit too 'rock chick' for me, but upon trying it on I was hooked! Basically, its like a regular earring stud, but with a little clip attached at the end of a hanging chain which you curl around the top of your ear cartilage. I pinned a bit of my hair back with a flower clip which is the same colour as my skirt so that people could get the full effect of the ear cuff. I wore my standard black tassel bag which I've had for ages and my black suede Topshop shoes which my parents got me for my birthday. 

As for my face...

*This picture makes me look like I've had WAY too much sun, but I actually haven't even been out in the sun so it must have been due to weird lighting. Also, how shiny is my forehead??? Stupid effing flash.*

*And this picture makes my lipstick look invisible and I look ghostly white. Cameras, eh?*

I used Lancome's Teint Miracle foundation with a dusting of benefit's Hello Flawless powder foundation over the top. I contoured very lightly with Hoola by the same company and used their Browzings as usual to darken my brows. I brushed some of Nars's Orgasm blush over the apples of my cheeks for a youthful look then got started on my eye shadow. Using Urban Decay's Naked palette I dusted Virgin up to my eyebrows and on the inner corners of my eyes before packing Half Baked over my entire lids. I brought this colour down onto my lower lash line and started layering it under my eyes starting from my inner corners and extending it onto my cheeks slightly so it was nice and sparkly which made me feel kind of glam rock. I took a bit of Creep on a liner brush and smoked it around the outer corner of my lid, dragging it into my socket and running it along my upper lash line. I used benefit's BadGal liner on my lowed water line and coated my lashes with their They're Real mascara. I used their highlighter Moon Beam around my cupids bow, on my brow bone and across the tops of my cheek bones before slicking on a thick layer of Revlon's Lip Butter in Peach Parfait. And that was that!

I had a fantastic night and The Hippy Hippy Shake Company staff did too, looking lovely as ever! They're a sexy bunch, wouldn't you agree?

 

So what do you think about my ensemble and makeup look? What do you wear to a gig in the summer? Does anyone know how to make my camera take face-pictures like I want it to? 

Love and snuggles

gabriellasofia

x