Contest Entry: Naomi's Sultry Silver Smokey Eye

With just a day to go until I announce the winner of the Cosmopolitan brush set, here's the latest entry from A Lauren to Herself subscriber, Naomi Taylor.

Naomi's created this sultry silver take on the smokey eye...and here's what she used to create the stunning look

On the face:

* Maxfactor's Weightless Foundation - Light Ivory

* Barry M's Imperfection Correction Concealer Pen - Shade 1

* SBC's Translucent Setting Powder

* GOSH's Precious Powder Pearls (Used as a contour under the cheekbones and jaw)

* MeMeMe's Blush Me - Pink

On the lips:

* SBC's lipstick - 05S

* Barry M's Lipgloss - 049 (Used ontop of the SBC colour)

And, most importantly, on the eyes:

* Toofaced Shadow Insurance

* Barry M's Kohl Pencils - Black, White (White: used on the entire inner half of the lid and waterline. Black: used on the other halves)

* Barry M's Liquid Eyeliner - Black

* MeMeMe's Fat Cat Lashes - Black

* Revlon Color Stay Quad in Sultry Smoke - Used the silver (top colour) and the black (bottom colour). (Silver was used as the second colour in, on the inner corner. Black used add depth and smoke out CS's R8C6)

* Coastal Scents' Pandora (Used as a centre colour)

* Coastal Scents' 88 Matte Palette (R row C column) R1C5, R5C6, R8C6 (R1C5 used on the bottom waterline, R5C6 used to create shape and R8C6 in the outer crease)

* Rimmel's Glam Eyes - Glam Ice (Used as a highlight on cheekbones, nose, brows and in the tear duct, as well as helping to smoke Revlon's Sultry Smoke's Black).

Are you a fan of Naomi's look?

Want to enter my competition to win the make-up brush set (worth £135). You have until the end of play tomorrow to email me your entry. 

Good luck everyone!

Contest Entry: Steph's Beautiful Blue Smokey Eye

My contest to win a Cosmopolitan brush set (worth £135) is really hotting up, after the latest entry from Steph (a public follower via Google Friend Connect) popped into my email inbox.

Here's what Steph used to create this gorgeous take on the original black smokey eye:

* Urban Decay primer potion in eden all over the eye + brow bone
* Sleek ink pot as a base over the eyelid + lower lash line
* Inglot Pearl 428 on the outer half + lower lash line
* Urban Decay Radium on the inner half
* Urban Decay Kiddie Pool by the tear duct
* Inglot Matte 323 to highlight and blend
* Urban Decay Black Dog for the crease and outer corner
* Mememe Fat Cat mascara
* Ardell's 109 false lashes.
 
 
And here's the stunning finished look....
 
 

 
What do you think of this look? If you still want to enter the competition, you have until the end of the day tomorrow to email me a photo of your smokey eye to laurenholden6@gmail.com
Check out the previous contest entries to see what great talent you're up against and good luck!

Contest Entry: MeLoveMakeUp's Ultra Violet Smokey Eye!

Here's the latest entry in my competition to win a Cosmopolitan make-up brush set, worth £135.

Sophie from the blog MeLoveMakeup has come up with this unique twist on the classic black smokey eye -  'Ultra Violet Smokey Eyes!'

Here's what Sophie used on her eyes:

* MAC Blacktrack Fluidline (as a base)
* MUA Shimmer Purple (on eyelid)
* H&M Glitter Black (upper lid and crease blended)
* Trucco Duochrome Purple (inner corner and to blend out crease)
* Sleek Kajal Odyssey (lower lashline and waterline)
* Revlon Grow luscious mascara
* MUS Purple Glitter (lower lashline and eyelid)

and on the face:

* NARS Sheer Matte Foundation 'Siberia'
* Firstlight Cosmetics 'Air Kiss' Powder
*Accessorize Merged Blusher 'Diva'
* Garnier Undereye Concealer Roll on
Sophie's stunning look was finished with MAC Snob Lipstick & Vaseline Rosy Lips on the pout. Mwah!

What do you think of Sophie's look?

Want to send your very best smokey eye for a chance to win the competition? Just email it no later than January 31st at noon to laurenholden6@gmail.com

And this is what you can win.....(yep, everything pictured!). What are you waiting for?!

Some Milk and A Mani!

Ever been in the supermarket and thought: 'I really fancy a manicure'. No, me neither. But for anyone who has, they can head straight to Tesco for more than just a pint of milk.
Selected Tesco stores have launched a new health and beauty service, which includes hairdressing, nail and threading bars.

Nail bars and threading are currently being trialled at stores in Wembley, Cambridge Bar Hill, Milton Keynes Kingston and Manchester (Walkden) and standalone beauty salons - which will also offer hairdressing services - will be opened in Leicester and Chesterfield on January 31st.

One of the huge benefits of the service is that no appointments will be necessary.

Prices will be competitive - £20 for a cut and blow dry, £15 for a shampoo and hair cut and £12.50 for a hair cut. A half leg wax is £10 and full leg £15.

What do you think? Will you be popping to Tesco next time your eyebrows are looking a bit unruly?

Contest Entry: Smokey Eye With a Twist!

There's still a week or so left to enter my smokey eye contest to win a Cosmopolitan make-up brush set, worth £135. Simply send in a photo of your best smokey eye to laurenholden6@gmail.com and the winner will be announced at the end of this month.

In the meantime, check out the lovely Yeefong Shum's twist on the classic smokey eye. Here, Yeefong, from the blog Pretty China Doll talks you through how she achieved this beautiful, unique look. See below and check out her full post on her blog.

1. First, I primed my eye with Too Faced Shadow Insurance (commonly abbrev. as TFSI), NYX jumbo pencil (melted down into a pot) in Yogurt

2. Using a small eyeshadow brush, I applied a yellow shimmer color (I used Yellow Shimmer by Mineral Basics) to the inner corner and inner 1/3 of the eyelid.

3. Now, apply a bronze color (I used bronze shimmer by Mineral Basics) to the middle 1/3 of the eyelid.

4. . Now using E.L.F angled eyeshadow brush, I applied a tomato color (Bleeding Heart- Back to the Earth cosmetics) to the outer 1/3 and the "crease". Wing out the eyeshadow and for my "crease" it's basically above the other 2 eyeshadows as shown.

5. Now, using a purple eyeliner (Purple from the Green Eyes Trio by Physicians Formula), create a winged eyeliner on the top lash line and a line the lower lash line.

6. Now taking an eyeliner brush (Coastal Scents taklon angled eyeliner brush), load it up with a matte/dark purple shadow (Revlon Matte Shadow in Aubergine) and carefully trace on the eyeliner and smudge it out. Use light, short strokes to blend it upwards and into the eyeshadow. On the wing part, bring it in a little bit. Don't have it touch the bronze. You want it to fade into the red.

7. Now using a smudge brush (Small smudge brush by Coastal Scents), take a black eyeshadow (True Black- Back to the Earth Cosmetics), and smudge it until the lash line and over the purple eyeliner. I was going to use a purple (hence the purple eyeliner) but I changed my mind. I took it pretty far down, but you don't have to =)

7. Now using a smudge brush (Small smudge brush by Coastal Scents), take a black eyeshadow (True Black- Back to the Earth Cosmetics), and smudge it until the lash line and over the purple eyeliner. I was going to use a purple (hence the purple eyeliner) but I changed my mind. I took it pretty far down, but you don't have to =)

8. Add mascara (Rimmel Lash Accelerator), and half false lashes. I normally would stick to half ones without sparkle stuff, but this is all I have.

The Finished Look!

What do you think of Yeefong's look?

Is This The New (More Expensive) Clarisonic?

We've all heard of the Clarisonic, but SQOOM, a new German skincare concept, aims to 'turn back time' for women across the glove.

Aiming to make your skin look 10 years younger, the German skin treatment system is coming to the UK and will be launched exclusively in Harrods in spring 2011.

Specifically developed xcential hya gel, DeSpot gel and cleanser gel are applied to the skin with the help of this nifty-looking handheld device, much like the famous Clarisonic exfoliating device.

Three different gels, though pricey, are available at Harrods to use with the device. SQOOM cleanserGel prepares the skin for the beauty programme, which includes cleansing, massage, nutrition, lifting, whitening and wrinkle care. By applying the gels in a specially designed 12 minute regime, the user is able to achieve long-lasting results. Will this be the end of the face-lift, as the brand PR suggests?
The new product, priced at a whopping (wait for it...) £549, including two hya gel products Will this be the end of the face-lift?

Would you splash out £549 on this or is it just another 'gimmicky' product?

Got Your Mitts On Your Models Own Tokens Yet?

If not, there's still time to!

Just head to your nearest newsagent and pick up Fabulous Magazine (in the News of the World), collect 2 tokens from the mag from January 9 to 23 and then head to your nearest selected Tesco store to pick up your free Models Own gift, worth over £20!

If you're still not convinced you want the kit, check out mine (below), which dropped through my letterbox last week, thanks to the kind PR people behind the promotion.

The kit includes a mascara, eye liner, eyelash curlers, an eyeshadow duo and tweezers. You also get 25% off your next Models Own order online!

FTC Disclaimer: The Models Own kit was sent to me for review consideration. I have not been paid to submit this post, nor am I affiliated with the brand. My opinions are my own and 100% honest.

Dip and Define with Miners' New Pigments!

Introducing...Miners new selection of eyeshadow pigments.

Each loose powder in the 'Dip and Define' range is "enhanced with metallic flecks giving a pop of intense colour with shimmering undertones. With an innovate spring applicator, Dip and Define allows for precise and intense coverage making this eye powder a real gem."

Now I'm not going to lie; these were a pain to use. Eyeshadow pigments are never easy to work with and these were no different. Their 'innovative' dip applicator just made for more mess as it almost 'pinged' out of the container upon each use causing, quite frankly, a blimming great mess.

From left to right: Cloud 9, Cosmic Copper, Khaki Gold, Rough Diamond, Damson Dust and Deep Cornflower

The packaging, on the other hand, is lovely. The shadows have an Urban Decay feel about them, shiny and sleek with silver lids.

Once on the eyelid, the shadows were easy to blend and soft to the touch but they didn't give the 'intense colour' they promised on the Miners press release. If you're looking for a cheap and cheerful product that gives a subtle shimmer to your eyelids though, these are great.

They come in six shades (I found the copper shade - Cosmic Copper - to be the most pigmented) and are just £3.49 each.

Have you tried Miners pigments? What do you think?

Don't forget to email me your photo of your best smokey eye for the chance to win a Cosmopolitan make-up brush set, worth £135. Please see my previous post for full details.

FTC Disclaimer: These eye shadows were sent to me for review consideration. I am not affiliated with the company, neither was I paid to submit this review. All opinions are 100% honest, as always.

Not Long Left To Enter...

Anyone who'd like to enter my competition to win a Cosmopolitan make-up brush set, worth £135, has until the end of this month to send me a picture of their best smokey eye. Check out this post for full details.

In the meantime, here's Lauren's entry...from Lauren Loves blog....(nah, not me...but another blog of the same name)....

Here, Lauren talks you through how she achieved this gold smokey eye look.

Lauren says:  I decided that I loved smokey eyes as it’s a gorgeous, dramatic look which makes your eyes stand out and is really gorgeous - but I think black smokey eyes are old now, and can easily look like a badger. It's not flattering so the new look is coloured smokey eyes! Take Kim Kardashian and Taylor Momsen...

Here is my tutorial on golden smokey eyes for a more flattering but stunning look. Here's what I used

A palette of eyeshadows. I completely adore the Sleek Storm palette for the intense and blendable shades, and for £5.99 you can't complain. But any combination of the shades from other brands work too

I also used:

A brown liquid eyeliner (I use the Collection 2000 one)

A brown kohl eyeliner (I use Maybelline Kohl Express Eyeliner in their gorgeous sparkly brown shade)

Your favourite mascara (I've used MaxFactor False Lash Effect Mascara)

A small eyeshadow brush and a blending brush

Ready? Here we go... Here's my naked eye! Boring right?

Step 1. With your big blending brush, apply an all-over base of a pale gold, and take it up to the crease of the eyelid. I used number 1 for this.

Step 2. Using the same brush, add a wash of the palest gold (number 2) up to the brow bone as a highlighter

Step 3. Again, using the large brush, add a sweep of gold over the eyelid, concentrating nearer the lash line. I used number 4 for this. It's a gorgeous luminous gold!

Step 4. Using the smaller eyeshadow brush, blend in a dark bronze (number 7) to the lashes. We're building up the smoke! Then blend in the black shadow (number 12) right into the lash line, keep rubbing into the bronze and blend it upwards.

Step 5. Add a sweep of the brown liquid eyeliner

Step 5. Add a sweep of the brown liquid eyeliner

As you can see Lauren's gone into great detail here and she's done a fantastic job. Think you can do better than Lauren? Email me your photos (with or without step by step tips) to laurenholden6@gmail.com

Don't Forget To....

....head to your nearest newsagent and pick up today's Fabulous Magazine in the News of the World to ensure you're one step closer to bagging your very own Models Own Make Up kit, worth over £20.

Simply collect two of three tokens printed in ‘Fabulous’ from January 9 to 23 and head to your nearest selected Tesco store to pick up your free gift (see below).

The kit includes five products for readers to create a fabulous eye look:

· Tweezers with a precision cut edge to create a beautiful shape;

· A liquid eyeliner with pointed foam nib for amazing eye definition;

· A duo eyeshadow to create a sultry smokey look that’s perfect for day and night wear;

· An eyelash curler for a natural and lasting curl, and

· Volumising mascara to frame your eyes all day (and night) long

Readers will also get a great free reusable makeup bag and 25% off at the Models Own website. Full details can be found at www.fabulousmag.co.uk/modelsown.

To accompany the offer, Fabulous Magazine has launched “The Handbag Grab” Facebook game. For a limited time only, fans have the chance to win various Models Own products and ASOS, iTunes, Pizza Express and Wahanda Spa Vouchers by becoming a fan of the ‘Fabulous’ Facebook and playing the game. To take part, head to www.facebook.com/fabulous.

In other A Lauren to Herself news, I have extended my competition to win a Cosmopolitan make up brush set until the end of this month. I have been poorly in the first week of January (great start to the new year, eh?) but I am slowly getting back on the mend. Don't forget to email your smokey eye looks to me at laurenholden6@gmail.com for the chance to win a brush set worth £135!