Festival Essentials

Over the summer I was lucky enough to go to two festivals, Latitude and the Wilderness. They were both amazing experiences and I loved the music and electric atmosphere! The highlights for me were Laura Marling, alt-J and Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros at Latitude and Benjamin Francis Leftwich at Wilderness.

I have to say though, even though festivals are so fun the one downside is camping. I actually hate it.

I don't mind so much sleeping it's more the fact that you can't shower or get ready properly at all, you have to brush your teeth with water from your bottle and try and get dressed and do your makeup in a tiny cramped little tent with a compact mirror! Its horrible!
Because of this I have learnt from my mistakes and picked up a few tips in terms of what to bring to festivals in the future.

1) Make sure to bring a mirror with you in your makeup bag, the bigger the better believe me - it is impossible to do your foundation with one of the tiny ones!
2) Denim shorts for me are just the best. It doesn't really matter if you get them dirty and they pretty much go with anything! My favourites are ripped Levi's but any will do :)
3) Knee-high socks are great for wearing with wellies. They keep you warm, stop the wellies from rubbing and look cute peeping over the top of your boots.
4) MAKEUP REMOVER WIPES! These are amazing for convience and for just quickly wiping all over your face before you go to sleep. Personally I have quite an extensive skincare routine but it really was not worth the effort of trekking to the sinks in order to use my favourite cleanser...
5) Tinted moisturisers - I hate wearing heavy makeup at festivals when I'm gonna be outside (maybe even in the sun) all day so tinted moisturisers feel lighter on your face.
6) Ear plugs. Obviously not for bringing to see the bands but for at night when you're trying to get to sleep! Normally at festivals there will be parties going on all night where they blare music through the speakers which you can hear from the campsite. Bring a pair of ear plugs to block out all the noise!
7) Small backpack/ satchel just for carrying your essentials around the arena.

And my NUMBER ONE tip for festivals is to bring a brick phone!!! You know what I mean - a little Nokia or Alcatel or something. Smartphones have terrible battery life but one of these will last all weekend ;)

Update on life blah

Hiiii everyone, having a seriously lazy day today, got a manicure this morning at a nail bar rounds the corner - chose Essie 'Mint Candy Apple', in loveee!
I realise I've been seriously neglecting my blog this summer, and I'm so sorry!! My excuse is that up until July I was working really hard with exams and so I really needed some time just to chill out, however I hope that now posts will become more regular :)
Over the summer I've discovered some great new (to me) skincare and beauty products - would you guys be interested in a skincare routine? Or more of just a general skincare favourites? I've particularly been loving La Roche Posay as I've had a few major breakouts recently
I feel like I should mention the Olympics... Hmmm... So yeah they were in London this year... Feel free to share your opinions in the comments! For us Londoners I have to say they were a bit of a nuisance, getting around was hell and it was so busy! Luckily I managed to escape to Italy with a couple of friends for 10 days, from the day of the opening ceremony to a few days before it finished. I had the best time and came back tanned and with blondey-gold hair - only downside is that now all my foundations are too light for me wahh!
Anyway - I hope you're all well and have been enjoying summer, please do feel free to make suggestions/ chat to me either in the comments or by sending me a message at blackeyebeauty@mail.com I would love to hear from anyone who bothers to read my stuff!
Xxxxxxxxx

The Perfect Pick-me-up?

The Caudalie Beauty Elixir is a product that is very much raved about on the blogosphere and YouTube beauty community. Put simply it is water in a bottle! I picked up the 30ml size for around €10 when visiting Brussels last week to see what all the fuss was about.
The scent is very much an 'acquired taste' I would say, the main ingredients are extracts of grape essential oil of rosemary (..wtf), orange blossom and rose extracts etc etc. When I first used this product I was overcome by the scent, it is very strong and sort of herbally-smelling but quite pleasant in my opinion. However, it may not be to everyone's liking and I have heard many people complaining about it (including essiebutton and Zoella).
I was quite sceptical about spending my money on this as it is not cheap (the full-size is nearly £30) and the first time I sprayed this on my face, in all honesty I didn't notice much of a difference. However... I've come to notice a real difference in my skin after several applications, and it leaves you with a much more glowing complexion. I like to use it if my makeup is looking a bit too cakey and I want a more fresh and dewy finish. The smaller bottle is also the perfect size for popping in your handbag to refresh yourself throughout the day.
I'm not too sure if I would invest in the larger size in the future, I've heard that some people like to use it as a toner but personally I think you can get better things for the price. I would definitely consider repurchasing the smaller bottle though for using on days when I'm feeling a bit bleurgh! ;) 
You can pick up Caudalie products in the UK at www.feelunique.com

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

Quite a few of my friends swear by the Maybelline 'Dream Matte Mousse' foundation, an air-whipped formula for normal to oily skin. It comes in a cute little pot and with 18ml of product at £7.59, it was a bargain especially compared to other foundations I have tried.
I decided to try it and picked up the shade 010 Ivory, the third-lightest shade. I normally go for either the lightest or second-lightest, but this colour seemed to match my skin the best. It is best applied with fingers which is quite good for on-the-go I suppose, and blends very easily.
However, in terms of longevity, it really didn't last the day. I applied it the other day at about 7.30am and when I looked in the mirror at about 10am my skin really wasn't looking great. In my opinion its an OK foundation for touch-ups throughout the day, but really isn't very good if you need lasting coverage, so I would suggest using a different foundation in the morning and carrying Dream Matte Mousse in your bag.
It did live up to its name upon application, and certainly mattified my skin. The problem was it just didn't last.
Have you tried this foundation? What did you think?

Dainty Doll by Nicola Roberts

'Dainty Doll' is a line of cosmetics by Nicola Roberts (from Girls Aloud) designed specifically to cater for pale complexions. As I have very fair skin, when I saw the stand in Boots I decided to give it a try.
I purchased a blush in the shade 03 'Money Talks', a beautiful dusty mauve colour with shimmer, comparable to 'Sin' by Nars in my opinion (although 'Sin' is more red-toned). The slimline compact comes with a mirror for on-the-go application, and has a funny retro picture of Nicola on the front. I think the packaging of the whole line is very nice and sleek, quite simplistic but tasteful.
'Money Talks' suits my complexion well and I would imagine it suits other girls with pale skin too, there are only three blushes in the line but this was definitely my favourite judging by the testers I swatched in the store.
If you're a Snow White like me, I'd definitely recommend you check out the Dainty Doll line available in Boots!

March Favourites!

Hey everyone, I've seen a few other bloggers do posts like this so I decided to give it a go! These are just some of the products I've been reaching for in the month of March. Also, I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while and I realise its getting quite late in April for a favourites post but oh well!

Paul Smith 'Rose' Eau de Parfum

This is a perfume that I've been loving this month, as the name would suggest it is a lovely rosy scent. I noticed that essiebutton recently did a post about her love for rose scents and I definitely agree with her! It is a relatively affordable perfume at about £25 for 100ml.

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder (shade 52)

This is a much raved-about bronzer on the blogosphere, I got it for £6.99 which is next to nothing compared to the staggering £25 I paid for NARS 'Laguna'. I heard it's meant to smell like chocolate, I don't know if I would agree with this but it definitely does have a lovely sweet scent. In terms of colour it is a more golden-toned brown with shimmer.

Natural Collection Moisture Shine Lipstick in 'Apple Blossom'

This lipstick is SUCH a bargain at just £1.99 from Boots. I first heard Barbara (ThePersianbabe) talking about this on her channel, its a nudey-pink shade comparable to 'Creme d'Nude' by MAC but with a bit more pink. I generally find the Natural Collection lipsticks to not be too drying and be fairly pigmented, amazing for the price!

NARS blush in 'Sin'

I definitely prefer NARS blushes to MAC, they are just so pigmented and long-lasting with an amazing range of colours. 'Sin' is quite a popular shade, its quite a dark berry colour with gold shimmer. I think its just so pretty and its a very wearable colour, I've been wearing it a lot during March.

What were you all enjoying using in March?

Thoughts: Clinique 'Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss'

This week, bored waiting for a train at London Bridge I popped into a newsagent's in search of a magazine. I was so excited to discover that this month's 'Cosmopolitan' (£3.50) comes with two mini Clinique products!

I snapped one up quick, and received my free 'Moisture Surge' and 'Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss'. There is also another edition where you can receive the '7-day scrub cream' and a mascara.
The concept of the superbalm is that it adds gloss and a hint of colour to the lips, while also acting as a conditioning balm. Mine is in the shade 10 Grapefruit, a pale blue-pink, and the mini size is 7ml (full size 15ml).
The gloss claims not to be sticky, and I would definitely agree with this. It doesn't give quite as much sheen as I would have liked, but it was a great bargain! Clinique seems to have a good range of neutral shades, and the full size retails for £13.50 (the same as MAC lipsticks).
I am obsessed with lip balm and carry one in my handbag at all times, so this product is great for using on the go. I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of Cosmo to get your free gifts!

How to: DIY heated eyelash curlers!

In this post I will teach you a very simple and cheap method of creating your own 'heated' eyelash curlers! Using heat to curl your lashes will help to hold the curl in place for longer periods of time.
Please note: this method only works for eyelash curlers with rubber pads.

You will need:
Eyelash curler (the type with rubber pads)
Hairdryer

Step 1: Release your eyelash curler so that it is as open as possible.
Step 2: Switch on your hairdryer to the highest heat setting but lowest air setting, so it is very hot but not releasing very much air at once.
Step 3: Hold the nozzle of the hairdryer a few centimetres away from the rubber pads and heat gently for about 30 seconds. Be careful not to heat the curler for too long, as if the pads are too hot, you could burn the sensitive eye area.
Step 4: Let the curler cool for 2-3 seconds before using as normal!

Thoughts: Maybelline 'Falsies' Mascara

I know I'm a little bit slow on the uptake, seeing as this product was raved about more than a year ago. However, it is something that I only recently brought myself to purchase. I usually try not to have too many mascaras on the go at once, as (as I'm sure many of you know) you need to throw out your mascara every three months to stop bacteria from forming.
'Falsies' is a cult favourite of beauty bloggers, so I was excited to try it out for myself! The packaging is quite cute, and it was down to £5.99 in Superdrug (normally about £7.99) so I decided to give it a go.
The wand itself is quite chunky and slightly curved. I find that when this mascara is applied, my eyelashes can usually hold a curl pretty well. I normally apply it with the curve in more of a 'U' shape, then flip it over for my bottom lashes.
In my opinion, this product is not completely worth the hype. I think it's very good value for money, but it definitely isn't my favourite.

Hey everyone, I'm writing this post to ask for your help. I love blogging, but I feel like I don't know what kind of posts to write! I'd really appreciate it if you guys would comment on my posts; send me a message, whatever you like really - just to let me know if you have any requests or ideas.
It would be so helpful to me! I am definitely willing to review any products you're unsure about or anything like that, plus to do more tutorial-type posts. Thank you! xxxxxx

Get Glowing for Spring!

Benefit 'High Beam'

 These past few days I've just been feeling a bit 'bleurgh'... I'm sure you're all familiar with that feeling. Sadly, my face is also looking a bit 'bleurgh'. I'm usually alright in terms of blemishes, I only get a few spots every now and again (touch wood) but my skin has generally been looking a bit paler, with some discolouration around my eyes and nose.

Left: MAC Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl' Right: Benefit 'High Beam'

Normally, my NARS Sheer Glow keeps me looking a bit more healthy, but yesterday; when applying my base makeup, I still looked a bit dreary. I decided to use a highlighter that I've been neglecting for a while: I applied Benefit 'High Beam' to my cheekbones, and voila - I looked instantly more awake!
I can't believe I've neglected my highlighters for so long. They're perfect for brightening the skin and giving a generally more luminous complexion. MAC Cream Colour Base in 'Pearl' is another one of my favourites.

Thoughts: Collection 2000 Cream Puff

In terms of lip colour, I usually go for pink, glossy lipsticks (as shown in my most recent blogpost: http://blackeyebeauty.blogspot.com/2012/02/top-neutral-lipstick-picks.html). Recently, though, I have been getting into a product that gives a very different colour and finish.
The Cream Puffs by Collection 2000 are a product that I've seen quite a few beauty bloggers talk about. They are comparable to the NYX Velvet Matte Lip Cremes, in that they are a moisturising lip cream that give a matte finish to the lips. I chose the shade Angel Delight, a dark brownish colour. I love it! It's very pigmented, and cheap as chips at just £2.99. The only problem is that there is a very limited choice of colours, in fact I think there's only 4 shades available. Despite this, in my opinion, you'd do well to pick one of these up!

Top Neutral Lipstick Picks!

Left to right: GOSH 'Darling', 17 'Beehive', Natural Collection 'Rose Petal', MAC 'Creme D'Nude', MAC 'Hue'

I've never been one for dramatic makeup looks, I prefer to stick to more natural colours on my lips. My perfect colour would be somewhere between a nude and a pale peachy-pink.
Here are a few of my personal favourite lipsticks to wear during the day. There are a couple of MAC ones but they are mainly cheaper 'drugstore' brands. I apologise - they are very similar, I tend to go for the same shades!

1. MAC lipstick in 'Hue' (glaze) - the perfect daytime peachy shade
2. MAC lipstick in Creme d'Nude (cremesheen) - a creamy nude
3. 17 Mirror Shine lipstick in 'Beehive' - most glossy lipstick ever! Peachy-pink colour, similar to 'Hue'
4. Natural Collection Moisture Shine lipstick in 'Rose Petal' - a more matte pink with coral undertones
5. GOSH lipstick in 'Darling' - a matte nude-beige

How to: Make your own Paint Pot

Left: MAC Paint Pot in 'Bare Study' Right: Homemade Paint Pot

MAC Paint Pot in 'Bare Study'

I use my MAC Paint Pot in 'Bare Study' almost everyday, either as a base for my eyeshadow or simply to create a natural look for my eyes. They are a very popular product on the blogosphere, and I have been looking to invest in a few more. However, as they are expensive, I realise that it may be wise to find a cheaper alternative!

You will need:

• 1 x depotted eyeshadow (in any colour)
• Vaseline
• A plate or any other wipeable surface
• A small plastic container
• Spoon

Step 1:  Put a dollop of Vaseline onto the surface.
Step 2: Spoon the contents of the eyeshadow onto the surface and mix into the Vaseline.
Step 3: Continue to mix the two together until you get to the thickness you desire.
Step 4: Place your homemade product into the container and you're good to go!

After applying my homemade Paint Pot

My Skin Saviour!

During these dreary winter months I have been neglecting my skin somewhat. I usually remember to cleanse and moisturise of an evening, but often forget to apply a moisturiser in the morning - or simply cannot be bothered!
However, I have recently discovered a product that saves SO much time - the Garnier B.B. Cream! Mine is in the shade 02 Light, and it claims to have 5-functions-in-one. In contains an SPF, moisturises, clears blemishes, and also acts as a foundation for your makeup.
I have been applying it every morning for the past few weeks for school, and it is a beautiful light base, much more natural than the Nars Sheer Glow foundation I usually use. I have also noticed a difference in the actual condition of skin, as it feels smoother and I am getting less spots.
All in all, a fab product, I'd definitely recommend it! Perfect for lazy girls like me!

NARS Laguna Bronzer vs Soleil Tan de Chanel

Left: NARS Right: Chanel

I happen to be extremely fair-skinned, so the invention of bronzer is a gift from the gods! I apply it using an angled blush brush across my cheekbones, and dust it lightly across my forehead and down my nose.
NARS bronzer in 'Laguna' has been a favourite of mine for a while for contouring too, but more recently I have discovered the Moisturising Bronzing Powder from Chanel. Mine is in the shade 62 Terre Epice which provides a more natural-looking glow to the skin.

I originally ventured to the Chanel counter in order to try out the infamous Bronze Universel. However, as I suspected, it was far too dark for my skintone, and instead the MUA recommended the Moisturising Bronzing Powder. It comes in a beautiful velvet pouch with a free brush too, which is a bonus. I've tried out the brush and it is questionable, but then again it did come free. In terms of packaging, I definitely prefer Chanel. It is just so sleek! It is quite a lot lighter in colour than Laguna, and it is slightly shimmery.

NARS Laguna is a cult favourite on beauty blogs and channels, and unlike Tan de Chanel it is completely matte. It is a fair bit darker which is great for contouring, but when I apply it all over my face, being so fair it can be a bit 'much'.

For darker skintones I would definitely recommend Laguna (or for a cheaper alternative, try the contour shade in the Sleek Contour Kit), but for pale girls like me I'd try Terracotta.

My favourite YouTube beauty gurus

Over the past year or so, I've really been getting into the whole YouTube beauty community. I've become obsessed with checking my subscription box everyday to see if my favourite girls have uploaded a new video, and there are some gurus who I watch religiously.
I thought I'd do a 'share the love' type post about the most down-to-earth and helpful beauty gurus who I have come across on YouTube. I watch mostly UK-based gurus because they are easier for me to relate to in terms of product availability, but there are a couple of American girls who I love too.

10) UglyFaceOfBeauty - Gracie is one of the most confident girls I have ever come across, and I really admire that in her. She posts great, relatable videos about products I have easy access to and she is hilarious! Love that girl!

9) missglamorazzi - Ingrid is so cuteeee and bubbly, which makes her really easy to watch. She makes regular beauty videos but she also has a vlog channel (TheGridMonster) where she makes LOADS of vlogs, lots with her boyfriend Luke. Check her out!

8) meganisobel - I think Megan is so sophisticated, her videos are quite calm so are very easy to watch. She does not have ridiculously excessive amounts of makeup and all of it gets used, so she is an example to us all!

7) FleurDeForce - Fleur is another London girl, she is so stunning... I want her hair! She has a really calming voice (lol) which is one of the reasons why I LOVE watching her videos. She is also friends with Ingrid (missglamorazzi).

6) glitterkiss11 - Chloe is a Canadian girl who makes fashion and beauty videos. She talks really fast and is so funny, which is why I love her! Her videos are also quite short and sweet, unlike some other gurus who make like 20-minute videos. Please.

5) ShonaShortcake - Shona is 18, so quite close to my age which makes her easy to relate to. I love her sense of style, the only problem is that nowadays her videos are few and far between!

4) Sprinkleofglitter - Louise has (quite) recently given birth to Baby Glitter! Well her real name's Darcy, but regardless, she is sooo cute. Louise is so funny and makes great beauty videos, but I also enjoy watching her vlogs.

3) zoella280390 - Zoe is Louise's close friend, and also makes beauty videos. I love her because her favourite place to shop is Primark! She does lovely videos without making me lust after designer labels, and she's so pretty!

2) ViviannaDoesMakeup - Vivianna is so gorgeous, and I often buy products solely based on her recommendation! She lives in the UK, which also makes her easy to relate to. I am obsessed with her hair aswell!

1) ThePersianbabe - Barbara is definitely my favourite! I love love love her videos, she is so pretty and her style is amazing. She is living in London like me, and her videos are so easy to watch, she influences me so much!

Thoughts: Benefit 'That Gal' Face Primer

I recently took the plunge and purchased a product that I have been lusting after for a while. The Benefit 'That Gal' Brightening Face Primer has rave reviews on the blogosphere, so I wanted to try it out for myself.
I bought it whilst in Brussels, in a Belgian department store called Inno. It cost me €29, but it retails for £21.50 in the UK (where I live). It's obvious what you're spending your money on: the packaging at Benefit is super-cute (although a tad unnecessary).
Actually getting the product out of the container is a little bit confusing, you have to remove the lid and twist the base until the product comes out of the holes at the top (get it?)
When the product finally did emerge, I was shocked - it was bright pink! I was a bit like wtf I'm not putting that on my skin. However, once I blended it into my skin with my fingers, it actually looked very natural. It smooths your skin and illuminates your face really nicely, and made my foundation go on a lot easier. It's only 11ml, so whether it's worth the money, I don't know. It's definitely very different to any other primer I've seen on the market, but I've yet to decide whether it's THE best.
Overall, a lovely product that I would definitely recommend if you have very fair skin like me. I'm not so sure how it would look on darker skin tones, as like I said, it is bright pink...
I'd also like to try the Smashbox Photofinish primer, so if I do invest in it expect a blog post later.

Lots of love xxx

Welcome to my blog!

Hey everyone,


Welcome to my blog! My name is Hope and I'm a teenage Londoner, still at school but I love to dabble with cosmetics the likes of M.A.C., Benefit and Barry M. I hope to update this blog once or twice a week and enlighten you a little bit as to my thoughts and views about various products, plus show you a few looks you can achieve with a budget. Bear in mind I am only 15, so I don't have any sort of income, and all products mentioned have been bought with my own money that I have saved up.
I am an aspiring beauty journalist, so this blog will be my creative outlet for the time being I suppose... In the future I hope to go to work experience at as many magazines as possible! I love creative writing, AND makeup, so this blog seemed to be the perfect way to satiate my materialistic ways!
Please let me know about any posts you would like to see in the future,


Lots of love xxx