The Beauty Cavern

I can’t believe I even bothered with make-up before this palette. I’d been lusting...

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 05:13:19 -0500

I can’t believe I even bothered with make-up before this palette. I’d been lusting over it for months, every beauty blogger and their mother was posting about the beautiful range of shimmer and matte nude, brown and golden shades.

I’m a massive fan of more natural colours, and will tend to lean towards browns and golds rather than blacks and greys, making this palette absolutely perfect for me. The only thing holding me back? The price. The Naked Palette can set you back around £32, however I luckily managed to come across it on Duty Free for only £26! It was the last one left on the flight - fate. Or so I liked to think as I guiltily handed over my overdrawn debit card.

The Matte Colours

If you’re a fan of a pure matte look, these will be the shades for you. They come in a range of light and dark browns, allowing you to make a really layered, contoured look. I particularly like buck and naked, as too many dark colours tend to make me look like I’ve been punched!

The Shimmer Colours

I’m such a sucker for a shimmer shade, so these are the colours I instantly reach for, whether it’s for a daytime or night time look. They blend together so beautifully, so it’s really easy to create a multidimensional, dramatic look. If you’re a bit scared of a heavy smoky eye, why not create one with more natural colours?

As Christmas is coming up, it’s a perfect time to pop this little beauty onto your list, ready to post to Santa. I use this palette practically every time I use make-up, and haven’t regretted parting with my money once. To help you with your decision, I’ve compiled a little list of this palettes multiple uses:

Highlighters: virgin, sin, toasted

Liners: darkhorse, hustle, creep

Eyebrow fillers: buck, hustle

Still undecided? Who doesn’t love creating a pros and cons list?

Pros: Comes with additional primer and eyeshadow brush. The palette comes with a range of colours, which is great for those who like to wear neutral colours. The shades are highly pigmented with little fallout, letting the user easily blend colours to create a range of looks.

Cons: Palette is expensive for a student budget. Colours can easily be found in eyeshadow singles by high street make-up brands. Those who don’t like shimmer colours will be disappointed with the high amount of them.

Have you been tempted by The Naked Palette?

Long gone are the days of plain, block coloured nails. With the arrival of nail wraps, crackle...

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 09:20:00 -0500

Long gone are the days of plain, block coloured nails. With the arrival of nail wraps, crackle polishes and nail pens, there’s never been a better time to get creative with your nails!

I’ve always loved experimenting with my nails. From painting each one a different colour to glueing on ridiculous nail extensions that ping off within hours, horrifically damaging the nail bed underneath. I’m always eager to try out new nail trends, and I’ve even managed to master painting my writing hand - an achievement for any girl I’m sure!

Here lie my current favourite nail trends I’ve been spying over the blogosphere recently:

I first saw this design over on Lily’s blog. My favourite thing about this design is that any colours can be used and so many creations can be made.

This is a lot easier to do recreate than you think. Simply build up the colour then finish off with glitter to make it look like a starry night sky. You can find lots of inspiration for your nebula nails here.

I do warn you though, it’s near on impossible to remove glitter polish.. approach with risk!

This trend sparked from the cute Topshop makeup range. All you need is a white polish and black nibbed nail pen to create a whole range of looks.

They’re this season’s crackle polish. This design is the newest craze in the nail world, with 17, Nails INC and The Saturdays bringing out their own collections.

The science behind it baffles me, but you simply paint the nail then hover the magnet over the wet polish, creating an almost holographic design.

Do you like to experiment and get creative with your nails?

Toner is a very important addition to your everyday skin routine. Used after a cleanser, it...

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 07:26:00 -0500

Toner is a very important addition to your everyday skin routine. Used after a cleanser, it helps minimise pores, cleanse the face and remove oil. As everybody’s skin is different, it’s important to buy into a brand that will not only improve your skin’s overall look, but will work with your skin type. Here are three completely different toners on three completely different budgets, helping you choose the right one for you and your purse!

Boots Essentials Toner - £1.42

Some people are a bit snobby when it comes to company’s ‘own’ brands and wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole. I’m the complete opposite; I’ll tend to lean towards the cheaper products as I don’t particularly see a massive difference… Well, that and the fact I’m a massive cheapskate.

This cucumber infused toner comes from the Boots Own skincare range. Whilst the toner is kind to the skin, it’s terrible for removing dirt and will take a good few applications before your skin is squeaky clean and make-up free.

Best For: Those who want to try and get into a skincare routine on a pocket-change budget. This would also be best for those who don’t wear make-up.

Clean & Clear Blackhead Clearing Cleanser - £2.99

No one wants to get spots, ever. Whilst it can be a bit daunting with the amount of spot fighting products on the market, it’s important that you get one that caters to your exact needs, otherwise, heaven forbid, you find yourself ending up with more spots than before.

This product is heavily alcohol based, meaning it can be very harsh on your skin. Begin by using it every other day until your skin adapts to it. The toner excellent for making your skin feel clean and refreshed. Did I notice a change to my blackheads? Unfortunately not, but I did really love how this toner made my skin feel.

Best For: Those with problem skin who are prone to a bit of dirt on their face.

No 7 Soft and Soothed Gentle Toner - £8

No7 has always been a luxurious brand for me. My mum has sworn by it for years, therefore it’s all right in my eyes. This toner is very gentle to the skin and leaves it feeling lovely and soft, making it perfect for all skin tones. The selling point for this product is that its alcohol free, meaning this product avoids drying out the skin, letting it feel supple and radiant all day long.

Best For: Those who like higher end brands or have sensitive skin. Also if you happen to have a spare £5 off No7 voucher, it wouldn’t hurt to add this toner to your collection.

Do you have an everyday skincare regime? Do you bother with toner?

Until a few years ago, plaits were never deemed ‘fashionable’. They were often left alone for fear...

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 14:56:00 -0500

Until a few years ago, plaits were never deemed ‘fashionable’. They were often left alone for fear of looking like a 10-year-old girl. However the likes of Whitney Port, Rihanna and Blake Lively have since stormed the red carpets with glorious braided locks, making plaits the must have hair trend this year.

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There are so many varieties of plaits that can be adapted to every face shape, hair type and hair length, meaning that there’s always a plait style to suit your life. Today we’ll be looking at the waterfall plait – a beautiful and effortless design that’ll help keep hair off the face in the windy winter months! This style is also perfect for those that are growing out pesky fringes.

Step 1 – Split the hair into three sections, like you would your standard plait.

Step 2 - Begin plaiting through the hair, like a French plait, however each time you go to pick up more hair, drop the strand you have and pick up a new section (remember to hold it tightly away from the head to keep the plait from looking sloppy).

Step 3 – Continue towards the back of the head, continuing the pick up and drop method seen in step 2.

Step 4 – Once you’ve reached the desired plait length, secure it tightly with Kirby grips to ensure it doesn’t fall out.

And voila! A simple and elegant plait in seconds! If you’re getting the braid-bug, be sure to try out other styles like the fishtail plait and reverse French plait.

Have you styled your hair in plaits yet?