Back to the Blog with a Bang (well, a theme at least...)

Hello Sparkles,

It's been a while, lacking time, energy and inspiration to blog about beauty products for perhaps the last few months but realistically a much longer time!

Thanks to the proactive interwebbing of my friend Liv I recently managed to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the West End in previews last summer. Stretching two nights and telling a tale that happens some fifteen years after we last saw Harry & Co it was one of the best theatre experiences I've ever had...potentially due to the proliferation of references to the book with which J.K. Rowling delights her eager and appreciative audiences.

You likely won't be able to see it for a while given the sell out status of the production, but I'd really encourage you to take a look - although I won't be letting you in on any of the specifics (#KeepTheSecrets) what it did get me thinking was that perhaps a Harry Potter themed series of posts might re-engage me and prove a challenge to the mind and the make-up closet to come up with products encapsulating some of the key themes or people in each of the seven books.

The series will be published over the next nine weeks - as each of the Deathly Hallows components will get their own week - and hopefully whet my appetite to get back into blogging, in addition to exciting the known and undeclared Potterheads in my reader group.

Til next time - love, hugs and well lit reading corners to you all

xx Josephine xx

Face of the day (Barely There) - April Fool's 2016

Hi Sparkles,

What do you mean I missed an Easter egg....?!?!

Are you about to embark on a long Thursday evening knowing you'll basically needto take the "dead" off your Friday morning work look? Sorry to be mean, but I'll probably still be snoozing or reading in bed since I'm off on leave this week - but fear not. I'm still here to help.

Easter Sunday was the day following one too many Bloody Marys and running up to some wine and excesses. I therefore wanted to look fresh and vaguely human but couldn't really be bothered putting in the effort to look insta-fabulous.

Look no further than the no makeup makeup.

Product list is below - my key tip would be that it's worth it to layer thinly on the skin to get a luminous finish but coverage where you need it. The Vitazing is definitely too dark for me, but a tinted moisturiser / luminser as a base is the way forward (as is perhaps a light dusting of bronzer) for days when you feel less than the best version of you. Go forth and blend kittens...

Til next time - love, hugs and happy weekending.



xx Josephine xx

Perhaps a clearer view, with the old scraped back hair.

Face

#Origins Vitazing tinted moisturiser,

#Tarte full coverage foundation (Light to Medium Sand),

#MAC pro longwear concealer (NW20)

Brows

#Illamasqua brow cake (Motto)

Cheeks

#Bourjois Aqua Blush (Inge-nude)*

Lips

#Bourjois Color Boost crayon (02 Fuschia Libre) *

While I have yet to reach the heady heights of interest from sponsors, products indicated with a * were not bought and paid for by my own fair hand, or that of a friend or relation.

Face of the Day (or Night) - Easter 2016

Detract from eye bags with bright lipstick!!! And a tube of concealer...

Dear Sparkles

I was the eager recipient of some freebies (see pic below and on Instagram - not to mention upcoming posts) and set about colouring in ALL OVER MY FACE with glee this Saturday. It's so nice to have a few days off work and makeup is essentially meditation for me!

Full product breakdown is below.

Hope you all had a fab holiday and were able to pamper yourself as well as enjoy mucho choco.


Til next time - love, hugs and dark chocolate kisses

xx Josephine xx

Matte lips - the Bourjois edition

Bottom right is actually a Color Boost pencil which I'll review separately.

Greetings Sparkles!!

I hope everyone had a fantastic Easter Sunday, but perhaps after the chocolate overload you'd like to perfect your pout today in order to dissuade yourself from ruining it with more morsels of delicious temptation.

In that case, look no further than your local Bourjois stand to achieve the 90s matte lip look which we saw all over the recent fashion shows. For those of you on Instagram you'll have seen that I received a selection of surplus testers from my sister's pal who works in a UK high street pharmacy chain. Unsponsored, but who am I to look a gift horse in the mouth - some of those items I already own in a different colour, others will be entirely new.