Too Faced/Boots Haul Pics

I picked up my Too Faced package which was waiting for me at Boots today. It was expected instore yesterday and although I received an email to say it had been dispatched last Thursday (I ordered Tuesday night), the email stated I would be informed when my parcel was ready to be collected.I got bored waiting and right enough, the parcel was already instore and I still haven't received an email to say so. Nevertheless, I am happy with the contents. Both the Brightening Blushes look gorgeous, I haven't tried them yet, so will let you know how I get on.The GWP is super. As I thought, it contains mini versions of Mirror Mirror Lip Gloss in I Love Myself, Lash Injection Mascara in Black and possibly the cutest thing ever, a boxed Pink Leopard Bronzer. Eeeek, I scream every time I look at it (which is a lot!). The question is, will I be able to bring myself to use it? You also get the makeup bag and carded sample of Sun Bunny Bronzer.
Please do not take images without permission. Click to enlarge.

DP Collection Strikes Again

I've already spoken about my love for the DP Collection at Dorothy Perkins, now there is another drop of gorgeous goodies online. More trend conscious styles including the star of the range, this textured clutch bag with adorable tassle (I have a thing for tassles!). The website calls it grey, I would say it's more metallic pewter.
It's a seriously 'go with anything' bag. Imagine it toughening up floral dresses, creating a 70's vibe with jeans, adding interest to a body-con dress or paired with a tweed suit? There are endless collabs for this bag. So it's probably quite the catch at £35 then isn't it?

Stila Stash Pics (Backstage Beauty)

I'm stll not feeling 100% today. Yesterday I ended up sleeping all afternoon, because I was so dizzy-I couldn't focus on anything. I get so frustrated at being even more ill than usual. Although I'm restricted in my life every day, I do have a little routine going and I get annoyed when I can't fulfill that. That aside, I'm keen to get on with things as much as I can today, starting wth some Stila stash pics. I got a really great deal on both of these sets in the BrandAlley clearance sale a couple of weeks ago.

I've always quite liked Stila, although because it isn't stocked near me, I haven't ever really had the chance to own much of it. However, my collection has grown at least 500% in recent weeks (no kidding!). An item I have lusted after since before it was even released is the Backstage Beauty Set, a collaboration with British designers Marchesa. The soft red, patent leather palette (is beautiful) and contains 3 eyeshadows and a mirror, plus wrapped around is a black corsage on ribbon. This can be used as a headband, bracelet, choker or anything you wish. I purchased the lovely Red Carpet Look which contains a nude eyeshadow for base, a shimmery medium silver/grey for lids and a shimmering pewter liner. You also get a little Onyx Kajal Eye Liner pencil. Click pics to enlarge.
I also picked up the Step Out and Shine (color collection and handbag). The silver clutch with purple lining contains Pomegranate Crush Lip & Cheek stain, Convertible Color in Orchid, Multi Effect mascara in black, Liquid All Over Shimmer in shade *6 and a cute mini Eye Shadow Quad in Montmarte (a collection of purples). Some great additions to my collection, I think you'd agree.
Please do not take pictures, thank you.

My Shoe Wishlist

I really must start a proper shoe wishlist, where it's easy to look at all the brands/prices/where to buy and then I can prioritise my purchases from there. I practically see new shoes every day that I want (infact probably more than once a day if I'm honest!) and some get forgotten or I can't afford them. I've had my eye on these Faith Laccey boots for a while now, but at £90-I can't really justify spending that on them. I'm definitely going to keep an eye on them, in the hope they get reduced at some point. I prefer the pewter shade (pictured) and the more I look at them, the more I wish I had a spare £90!
Another pair that caught my eye are these new neon flash boots at ASOS. I liked the style in the first 2 colours they brought out, but now I really love the grey/pink version. Not at all girly, but I'd love to give floral dresses and leggings an edge with these babies.
I've eventually put my Topshop Unique boots and shoes on ebay along with some other shoes that I don't wear anymore. My sister paid for the T/S shoes, so I'm still due her the money-I'm not really expecting to make a profit from their sales, but as long as I have enough to pay her back. I decided to keep the cream snakeskin courts in size 5, as with more trying on, they stretched a little and fitted fine. I also have the green nubuck shoes, but for sale are the blue nubuck boots size 5, black nubuck boots size 6 and cream pearlised leather shoes size 6. Head over to ebay if you want to bid on them-I ship worldwide. I'm pretty gutted at having to get rid of the blue boots especially, but I'm kidding myself that they'll ever fit comfortably. All are totally stunning and well worth the money, those heels are designer all the way!

What's in my Handbag?

I was reading this article in the newspaper the other day about what women keep in their bags. It even categorised us-I think there were 4 types depending on the size and type of bag and its contents.

I used to have this makeup bag at Uni, which was like a Mary Poppins bag, it had every possible thing for every emergency and I took it everywhere. I had samples of all types of makeup; foundation, powder sheets, mascara, lipstick, eyeliner and small perfume vials. Then there were tissues, safety pins, plasters, emery boards, chewing gum, small scissors, sewing kit, a mirror, comb, some loose change, clear nailpolish (for laddered tights), pen and paper, antiseptic wipes, painkillers, personal alarm, kirbi grips, hair bobbles, nail glue, salt and sauce sachets, everything. Can you tell I was Brownie? All my friends knew they were in safe hands, as long as I had my emergency kit with me!

However, I've never really been the type to cart around a massive handbag. That makeup bag was compact and almost fitted into even the smallest of bags. Some of the handbags I see girls carrying around nowadays, would do me as a weekender! I like to be able to find everything, but not feel like I've forgotten something.

My handbag style has probably not changed all that much over the years. However now that I don't necessarily go out of the house every day, I usually carry the bare minimum. I am pretty much a clutch girl 95% of the time, but they do vary from teeny to oversized. I use a different bag each time I go out and so just pop in whatever I would need that day/night.

I took this photo after I had been out with my friend on Tuesday night (so I didn't really need a lot, as I was only out for a few hours). As you can see it's not very exciting, an ASOS pink clutch with my phone (which I don't like-but barely use it), some loose change (I couldn't fit my purse in the bag, so just put money in), I didn't need any cards or even my keys. Then my L'Oreal Infallible powder which has a handy mirror inside, Playboy lipstick and lipgloss that I wore and a tissue. I always, without fail, grab a tissue on the way out. I have all these pretty printed ones in packets, but I always seem to forget them and at the last minute grab a boring one! How about you, does your bag define you? Do you need a small suitcase to get to work every day or are you minimalist like me?

ASOS Exclusive Snoozers are Losers

Remember my review of Anatomical Snoozers are Losers energy patches? Well, I was pretty darn excited to see that ASOS are stocking some exclusive, limited edition packaged patches. I am completely in love with the cute manga one, get yours only at ASOS for £3. I also noticed this new lipgloss from Bourjois on the site (Effet 3d Max lipgloss). I'm keen to try it out instore to see what it's like. It's supposed to be even shinier than the normal Effet 3d gloss. It has this very unusual looking applicator (that you can't see in the picture) with 'reservoirs' for added shine, whatever that means?! It's worth trying out anyway, there are some nice colours (from left to right) 68 Brun Etincelant (beige sparkle), 63 Rose Eclat (pink shine) and 62 Rose Gold (pale shimmer). I may have those names wrong, the ones in brackets are what ASOS call them and they are definitely correct-but I may have muddled them up trying to match to the real Bourjois name. Hopefully this is Bourjois back to it's best, after So Delicate Lip Cream, which I wasn't keen on at all.

Feud at BrandAlley

Feeling a bit queezy today for no apparent reason, so going to try and take it easy. I'm sure in a few hours time, I'll be sipping hot tea and watching Breakfast at Tiffanys for the millionth time!

I do have time to tell you about the Feud footwear sale at Brand Alley though. It just opened today and is running until 1st July. Prices start at £29, with up to 60% off rrp. My favourite are these Chelsea boots, £55 with cute peep-toe, cut-out detail and don't you just love the flash of bright pink lining? They are definitely calling my name.
These wooden Nut-Nut sandals, £42, are the type you would wear again and again, also available in yellow or coral.
The Missoni-esque colours in these t-bar Vanity shoes, £45, are sure to brighten any outfit.

Oooooh Olympia

Eeeeek, I'm loving Charlotte Olympia shoes. With every new season, the styles just get better and better. I would sell my Grandmother (sorry Granny), for a pair. You have to click the images of these Maxine platforms to see them in all their glory. Why do they look even more amazing, the bigger the picture? LOLI'm even more excited by the fact that they are in the sale on Net-a-Porter. However, even with a whopping 40% off at £279 (from £465), they are still way out of my league. Now let me go and drool over the kitsch Greta pair again.

The Child King

I couldn't quite believe the news I heard last night, as I got ready for bed. I'm sure many were in a similar situation, he couldn't be, could he? It was quickly confirmed, that the great Michael Jackson had died. Shocking. I ended up listening to the radio for 3 hours, not able to sleep and waiting for more news.

I think words like legend, can be thrown around a lot these days. In his case though, it was true, he was a living legend, a King. I keep hearing people saying 'he was the king of pop for our generation'. Personally, I think he was more than that. Even although, I wouldn't consider myself a fan, he didn't just appeal to one generation and given that his career has spanned decades, he's probably the greatest and most controversial thing in music since Elvis. He shaped music, there was nothing like him, his clothes, his style, the moonwalk, everything. I'm sure he had no idea how many people he inspired or influenced. I remember as a young child thinking there were celebrities, then there were those that were sooo famous, they couldn't do normal things, like go out of their house without being mobbed. They needed bodyguards for the simplest of tasks and you'd certainly never see them buying bread down their local supermarket. The three people I considered 'so famous' were Madonna, Brad Pitt and Michael Jackson. Now that I've grown up, I don't think of Brad like that at all, Madonna maybe sometimes, but for some reason MJ was still that unattainable, larger than life, global phenonomen.

His fans are just that, fanatics, absolutely obsessed, perhaps even posessed. They have followed him through the amazing highs and lately the lows. I don't claim to know the ins and outs of all that happened, but to me, he seemed like he had a good heart. Yes he was troubled and eccentric. However, he cared about his fans, he knew they made him and in return they were so loyal to him, true fans. It's all too easy nowadays to sit in our glass houses gossiping about Michael Jackson dangling his child over a balcony or his ever changing skin colour and appearance, Lindsay Lohan drink driving or losing too much weight and Britney shaving her head, going to rehab and everything else that's happened lately. What we don't or can't talk about is what would we do if it happened to us. Most of us were lucky enough to have happy and 'normal' childhoods. We didn't now what it was like to travel around the country or the world auditioning for jobs and dealing with all that comes with that. The rejection, the nerves, the feeling that you are never quite good enough, the sheer pressure on you to provide for not just yourself, but your whole family, afterall they had put their life on hold to follow your dreams. Then there's the opposite, the elation, the success and the worst of all, the fame. We can never begin to comprehend just what it feels like to know millions of people in the world are looking up to you. They are waiting to see your film or hear your song or see you dance and you can't disappoint.

We can't understand what it would feel like to go to Starbucks for our coffee and be followed by cars filled with paparazzi fighting to get a picture of what we are wearing/what we look like/what we say. If you've ever seen a pap video of photographers trying to get exclusive images of Britney/Paris et al, it's brutal. It's a modern day hunt, the shouting, the jostling. I've seen it first hand when Prince William came to our seaside town to study at University. The day he arrived, the town was filled with journalists. I remember a photographer rushing past me with his camera and steps, he was so desperate for a picture, that he swung the ladder around until it smashed into my legs-just to get past me. He didn't even blink or care as I winced in pain and to be honest this was tame and controlled in comparison to the media circus surrounding the aforementioned.

Of course such pressure and obscure lifestyle will affect you. It was obvious that Michael was constantly trying to recapture the childhood he never had. He tried to buy the life he wanted, to try and be happy and who were we to criticise? I've always spoken of my hatred for the current obsession with celebrity life. It's not that I don't want to see what Rihanna wore to the Grammys or the amazing dresses at the Oscars. I love seeing that. It's the sleazy gossip, the lack of journalism, what ever happened to knowing the facts? A woman with a rounded tummy is pregnant, a bit of cellulite is 'letting it all go', no makeup is shocking. Jennifer is in love with Brad/in love with John/dating other people/back with Brad/hating Brad/phoning Brad, it's hard to keep up and it's all just rumours and gossip, with no real facts. I digress slightly, but that constant obsession and building people up, just to knock them down is tiring and it's ruining peoples lives.

I don't know if Michael ever knew just what his presence meant to the world. Actually, I hope he didn't, because no man can deal with that. Many will say that the celebrity lifestyle is chosen and so they go into it with eyes open. But can you ever really prepare yourself for people keeping and selling your used cup or left over sandwich? Or people going through your trash to find something incriminating to sell a story? Should someone with a talent as big as Michael Jackson, simply be content with singing in his local pub or in front of friends and family and ever really have the option of not choosing fame? What would our world be without entertainers, movie stars and singers. Michael brought so much joy to so many people and from such a young age and that should be shared with everyone. However, you only need to look at Susan Boyle and see her transformation from having the world at her feet and possible million dollar career to strange mutterings and a visit to rehab all within a few weeks. Something that she will have to live with for the rest of her life. Michael Jackson was lucky in the respect that his fans stood by him, no matter what.

Unfortunately I can predict exactly what will happen now. The same that has happened with the likes of Marilyn Monroe, Princess Diana, Heath Ledger and anyone else taken too young. The autopsy, the will, the custody of his children, the rumours surrounding his health and death. The media circus is just beginning, we're already seeing helicopter footage of his dead body, covered on the ambulance stretcher. That's a way of life these days and I think it sucks. I don't want to see that. I don't want his kids and family to see that. We have to remember that although he was this magical and mysterious talent to us, he was just a little boy, a brother, a father and a friend.

No one will ever forget him, like Elvis, he will live on. He has to, with the outstanding career, the sheer number of people and things he inspired, there will never be an end to Michael Jackson. He left an amazing legacy and time will prove his worth. I just hope the media will allow him to rest in peace now.

Killer Lips courtesy of Playboy

Don't you just love it when you discover a new killer lip combo? It was sweltering hot yesterday afternoon as I got ready to meet my friend for a blether at night. I must have changed my outfit at least 5 times to try and find the most flattering and cooling outfit. It seems everything I own looks better with leggings/cardi/vest underneath! My makeup was almost melting off my face-no amount of powder was doing the trick and I changed my hairstyle 3 times to reflect the new outfit!
Anyway, after tea the weather changed dramatically and although it was still muggy, the har was blowing in off the sea and you could barely see a few metres in front of you. So after all that, another outfit change was required. I ended up wearing my new tulip shift from Primark, Asos wet look leggings, Miu Miu jewel peep-toes, Asos lipstick pink clutch and my black cardi.
As planned, I wore my 17 Beach Carnival liquid eyeliner in Emerald Coast (which lasted all night and through the heat and outfit changes) and I tried out Playboy Calender Girl lipstick in 68 Miss November. This lippie looks a medium brown but comes out very sheer making it even more gorgeous. I already own Miss May and it's much more pigmented-they are nothing alike in texture. I paired it with Playboy Hef's Favorite l/g in 64 Ms.Playboy and got this beautiful light peachy, nude, glossy lip. I can see me wearing this duo to death!
It was pretty busy but we managed to find somewhere quiet to talk about her impending wedding and how cute our nephews are! We made a quick exit though when the DJ ruined the ambience by setting up and blasting out 'oh I wish I was a punk rocker with flowers in my hair...'! That wasn't exactly what we had in mind for a Tuesday night, can you believe they even cleared a 'dance floor' in the middle of the pub? Most customers were eating meals and nobody looked like they wanted to get up and dance. Anyway it was great to catch up and a good excuse to get dolled up!

Too Faced GWP at Boots

I have to tell you about the amazing free gift when you spend £18 or more on Too Faced at Boots. I'm not sure if this offer is instore (I ordered online), as the shop I visit tend to not let you know about promotional gifts or discounts-so I wanted to be sure I'd get the gift.

I've actually never known there to be a GWP for Too Faced, just 3 for 2, extra advantage points etc. Anyway, I'm more excited about the freebies than the products I was buying. (Click the pic to enlarge as I made it extra big) You appear to get a makeup bag and mini versions of Mirror, Mirror Shine lipgloss, Pink Leopard Bronzer (which I have wanted forever), Lash Injection mascara and Caribbean in a Compact (Sun Bunny) bronzing powder. Fabulous huh?I bought the new Brightening Blushes (£13.70 each) in Pinch my Petals and Papa Don't Peach. They've had really good reviews and the packaging is adorable. I don't exactly need more blush and they are quite expensive, but I'm sure I won't be disappointed. I used the 'collect in store' option (free with orders over £25) and my package is due on Monday. It's the first time I've used this service, so I'll be keen to see how well it works (or not). You can collect advantage card points online, but can't use your vouchers (double points etc). Don't hesitate if you like this gift, as I've known them to go out of stock very quickly online without updating the site. You end up thinking you'll get the gift and then receive your parcel and it's not there, so be quick.

Stila Face Powder No1 Sakura Collection

Here are some pics of my Stila Sakura Face Powder no.1, a rare/limited edition item I believe! This is without a doubt an item I will never, ever use. The image is printed on the powder and has a sparkly finish to it. I could never bring myself to touch it and ruin it. I couldn't quite capture the intensity of the sparkle in a photo, so took a little video to show you. I hope it works (first time adding a vid to the blog).

Isn't it just one of the prettiest and most useless things you've ever seen? LOL. If you are desperate to get your hands on this super item, then Beauty Spot Cosmetics have 10 left in stock. The price, £5.75 is super fabulous and they ship internationally. As always, click pics to enlarge and do not copy or take without permission.

I'd also like to remind you that the Pink Haired Princess shop is open. Just click the image to the right of this page or the link and you'll be taken to the listings of cosmetics for sale. Each lot contains 8 items costing only £3.75 per item (with many HE brands included like Dior, Givenchy, Guerlain, Lancome, Stila etc). A great chance to try out some fabulous brands for less. I will post internationally and accept paypal.

Boots 17 Summer GWP

My sister called me at lunchtime yesterday to tell me that Boots have a new 17 gift (with any 2 17 purchases) and did I want anything (there were only 3 gwps left). I bought the new and completely amazing Beach Carnival liquid eyeliner in Emerald Coast. It's the most beautiful shimmering green or teal, depending on the light. The brush is tiny so very precise. I am going out with a friend tonight, so will be wearing this for sure! It's Limited Edition, so please get it now, you won't be disappointed. I also got another Lasting Fix nail polish, in Pink Grapefruit, a neon-ish pink.
The free gift, is a soft red pvc makeup bag with cute retro looking 17 branded blue lining. Inside are a small mirror, nail file and full sizes of Metallic Eye Pencil in Green (I think I may already own this) and Lasting Fix np in Tropical Island (a gorgeous bright orange with gold shimmer, which I'm wearing on my toes right now!).