Saturday 31 December 2011

Happy New Year Everyone!

Wishing all of my readers and followers all the best for 2012! I hope you all have wonderful evenings and spend it with those who mean the most to you. I have lots of exciting things planned for Story of Simderella and I hope you're all here to see them!


Wednesday 28 December 2011

Iris Apfel Collection for M.A.C Cosmetics ♥

Hello dolls!

How are you all doing? I'm still denying the fact I've eaten my body weight in chocolate treats in the past week (a minute on the lips a lifetime on the hips) and still window shopping the sales online as I'm saving my every penny for 2012! *Sigh*

On a better note guess what the the first M.A.C Collection for 2012 is......

Iris Apfel!


title
Iris wearing her collection!
Photo kindly borrowed from M.A.C
Who is she and why is she M.A.C worthy you ask?
  • One of fashions beloved icons - making Iris and M.A.C a match made in heaven!
  • She has inspired everything from jewellary ranges to fashionista students.
  • Her BFF is colour, her style and multiple accessories (as you can see from the above)
So it's only naturally that the beauty worlds most innovative brand take on her love for colour and style to kick start 2012!

Most of the collection is named after birds because Iris said so...I've managed to find a few images to share with you and boy do these colours make me excited for Spring, 2012 and M.A.C's first collection of the year!

From Left to Right 
Silver Gull  

Robin’s Egg 
Diamond Dove 
Early Bird 
Howzat 

From Left to Right 
Oriele Orange 

Toco Toucan  
Sandpiper 
                                   
From Left to Right
Entertain Me 

Embrace Me 
Redd 
I'm loving the colours in this collection especially the corals and pinks! Even though I'm just getting over the festive period it's making me look forward to Spring - My favourite names are Diamond Dove and Toco Toucan props to ever came up with those! Do any of the names pop out at you?

Are you excited for this collection?

**The information from today's blog post have been taken from various sources through stalking my favourite brand M.A.C Cosmetics** 

Monday 26 December 2011

Christmas Day Summary!

Yesterday was one of my favourite Christmas Day's to date - if at all possible and here is why!
  • Woke up extremely late.
  • Opened presents I wasn't expecting to get including some fab nail polishes, my dream bag!!!!!!! and lip glosses which I can't wait to wear!
  • Ate everything to my hearts content.
  • The Wii came out and teaching my dad how to play was hilarious. 
  • Watched Eastenders for the first time in a year and my god I'm glad I don't watch it. No one even cracks a smile.
  • Talk is in the air of potentially going some where hot for Christmas next year - ekkk!
  • Did I say I got my DREAM bag?!!
  • All in all it was a family filled day...What more could you ask for?
Here are a few other presents I was lucky to receive from some extra special people....Very grateful for everything I have been blessed with and everyone I have around me...

Maybelline Falsies Mascara & Eyeliner
Serena Glam Slam Collections for O.P.I
One Day by David Nichols & 1984 by George Orwell
Laura Mercier - Mini Lip Glace Set
This evening is going to be spent watching Bridesmaids and cramming in as much sleep before I work at a Sale Day tomorrow!

Did you all get what you wished for and more this Christmas?  What has been your favourite festive film to watch?

Sunday 25 December 2011

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!

Saturday 24 December 2011

Christmas Eve Nails

My last chance to add some sparkle to Christmas and using the pretty Deboarah Lippmann polish I got in my Glossybox which you can read about here!

What I loved about this polish is:

  • It's super sparkly - tick
  • Dries really quick - tick
  • Only needed 2 coats - tick
  • Was thick so could be used as a full colour, as opposed to a top coat like some glitter polishes!



Hope you all have the most amazing Christmas filled with food, family and love!

Friday 23 December 2011

December Glossybox!

Hello everyone! Two more sleeps till Christmas who's super duper excited?? (Don't all scream at once!)

So, last week I received my first EVER Glossybox.



I know a lot of you will already know but for those of you don't here goes.

Glossybox is a monthly box filled with 5 luxury beauty samples. There are other companies who do the same such as Feel Unique and Carmine. You pay £12.99 (including P&P) every month and Glossybox send you a very pretty, nicely packaged and perfectly reusable box with treats. After registering with them they give you the opportunity to fill out a short questionnaire. They get to know you and your make up, beauty habits so they can send you relevant products.

I ordered my first box using a discount code (STYLISTDEC2011) so I paid £8 and here is what I received!

  • Bionova - Eye Wrinkle Cream
  • Blink + Go - Eyeshadow and blush palette
  • Cargo Cosmetics - Lipgloss
  • Rituals - Shower Gel
  • Deborah Lippmann - Nail Varnish and Nail Stripper - Nail Stripper not in the picture above but you can find it below.
I was EXTREMELY impressed and haven't cancelled my subscription for next month. If anything I've gone sample box crazy and want to sign up for one of the others Carmine or Feel Unique too (but not sure if the bank balance will let me :( boo). For now I will stick with Glossybox but will check out the others for sure!

I've already used the lip gloss and Deborah Lippmann polish/ nail stripper. My Deborah Lippmann nails will be on the blog tomorrow be sure to check back! I used the Deboarah Lippmann Nail Stripper almost straight away. Here is how it worked, it is a lavendar smelling finger mitt which removes the polish from all ten nails! By the time I got to the tenth it just about scrubbed off the blue but most definitely did not remove any glitter polish.





I wouldn't recommend it for taking off glitter polish I would use the technique I used here. Although, it does smell lovely and takes away the horrible smell of nail polish remover!

What do you think? Will you be going sample box crazy and signing up for one?

Monday 19 December 2011

Blue Sparkly Nails

Glitter and Ice Inspired Nails

This week my sparkly nails where ice and snow inspired! Using Barry M Cyan and Claire's Accessories glitter polish that I used in this post here. This blue is a colour that I normally use in the Spring but with a coat sparkle anything goes this time of year. 






What do you all think? Liking the glitter and ice?

Friday 16 December 2011

How to look after your skin in the Winter.


My top tips for wonderful Winter skin!

  • Moisturise Moisturise Moisturise - The cold winds can dry out the oil in your skin so a good moisturiser is required in the morning and evening. I've swapped my normal moisturiser to a slightly more greasier one as my skin needs its. I have also invested in a tube of E45 to help any dry patches to a speedy recovery. Don't forget your lips they needs some TLC too.
  • Plenty of water - This is vital all year round but especially in the Winter. Temperature changes from warm central heating and icy outdoors plus the odd Coca Cola (because it's cold outside and we're all tired) can really dehydrate your skin!
  • Avoid face wipes - The alcohol in face wipes can once again strip your skin from vital oils that are needed to prevent dryness. Try a make up remover and cotton wool. 
  • Turn the heating down - WHAT! yes that's right turn it down or let in some cool air for ventilation. Like I said above the sudden difference between cold outdoors and toasty indoors sends your skin into overdrive. Your pores don't know if their opening or closing and this upsets them a lot! Open your windows for ten minutes to let in some fresh air to restore all the moisture your radiators suck out.
  • Lastly - The small things like not getting enough sleep and extra hot showers don't help any time of the year and especially the colder months. So use it as an excuse to get some sleep and as much as we love hot showers going from hot to cold is no good for our faces!
These are 5 obvious commandments to stick to all year round that can be forgotten in the hustle and bustle of December. Hopefully this refresher will help keep your skin in top shape.

Do you do anything else in the colder months? How do you prepare your skin for Winter? I know moisturiser is my skins BFF this time of year. 



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Image courtesy of  We Heart It

Wednesday 14 December 2011

Pretty Peacock Eyes using E.L.F Cosmetics

Without a doubt Peacocks are the prettiest in the animal kingdom and my second fav animal after elephants! Yes that's right elephants.

Seeing as all the latest fashion and beauty trends are slightly animal inspired I decided to create some pretty Peacock eyes using the free gift I got with my E.L.F cosmetics order. I was slightly worried at what the quality would be like on this clutch palette but I can assure you it is up to Simderella standards! I have quite dark eyes and the colours covered extremely well with a medium/high pigment. I would definitely recommend e.l.f for their products and their make up brushes. All of the ones I have used have been perfect for what I have needed them for and they're a bargain starting at £1.50. You can see which ones I purchased here.

The set contains 32 eye shadows, 2 blushers, 1 bronzer, face shimmer, eyebrow powder, eyebrow cream and various lipglosses! 


Anyway here is what I managed, I'm not going to lie I did do a bit of googling and found a good YouTube tutorial to follow as a rough guide!


                                      


 And here is another design I had a play around with.


*I used all the colours from my clutch palette, e.l.f gel cream liner and Dior Show Iconic mascara.

Anywho what do you think? They're not wearable but still pretty as a Peacock. Has anyone else tried to create a similar look?

Tuesday 13 December 2011

How to remove glitter polish - easily and quickly

I know you have all been there, done that and got the t-shirt when it comes to the painful scrubbing of removing glitter polishes. Especially this time of year when it's wrong not to have some glitter on your paws.

So, today I bring you the easiest way to remove any sparkles you may choose to coat your nails with this Christmas.

What you will need:
  • 5-10 minutes
  • nail varnish remover - I used Sally Hansen moisturising polish remover
  • Cotton wool - pads or balls
  • Some foil or cling film - I used cling film as we had run out of foil
1. Soak a cotton wool with a polish remover


2. Hold over your finger. I only used it on my ring finger and thumb as I only had glitter varnish on these nails.


3. Then wrap each finger in either cling film or foil


4. Sit tight for 5-10 minutes depending on how many coats of glitter you have.


5. Remove the cotton wool and you will be left with something like the above. It's not a pretty sight but I wanted to show you how effective this method is! The nail varnish had completely been removed on my thumb.


6. Tah dah! Give your nails a quick clean and you are left with glitter free nails without the effort of scrubbing! A couple of my fingers looked bruised but is was the ink from the fineliner pen I used to draw on my tiger stripe nails.

What kind of glitter nails will you be supporting for Christmas?

Monday 12 December 2011

Ombre Nails for Christmas

I spotted this trend back in the Spring but never got a chance to try it out. Whilst looking for my next set of sparkly nails I was pondering over which colour to choose from my O.P.I Burlesque little teasers set when it hit me. I had the perfect selection to create an ombre look for Christmas!

Here are the colours I used from left to right:
  • Rising Star - Lustrous glimmering gold
  • Take the Stage - A warm spotlight shimmer
  • The Show Must Go On! - With this deep pink shimmer on your nails!
  • Ali's big Break - This glowing red shimmer breaks through in style



Here is the finished look in Blue Peter style 'One I made earlier' (The pictures don't do the colours any justice they're delicious)

My right hand - Starting with 'Rising Star' (I alternated the 'ombre' sequence on each hand)
My right hand - starting with 'Ali's Big Break'

I actually really like these colours together it reminds me off a sweet shop. As per usual I'm once again eager for them to chip so I can take them off and apply my next polish idea!

What do you think? Yay or nay to these nails?

Thursday 8 December 2011

Makeup brush cleaning guide

How to clean your makeup brushes

We spend so much money on cleansers and toners every year to leave our faces squeaky clean and spot free. That's why it's important to use clean makeup brushes to ensure you're not counteracting this by adding bacteria and germs back on to your skin.

So, to break this vicious cycle I bring you a cost effective, easy and even fun way to clean your makeup tools!


What you will need:

  • Olive Oil
  • Shampoo - any brand
  • Kitchen Towel
  • A Bowl
  • Your Brushes
  • A Towel for Drying



1. First of all pour a little olive oil on a sheet of kitchen towel and choose your first brush to degerm. Using soft strokes coat the bristles in the olive oil. This softens the bristles whilst breaking down the makeup so the brushes are easier to clean. Never use a scrunching motion as this will ruin your brush!


2. After coating the brushes in olive oil I leave my brushes in a bowl of warm water and a few drops of shampoo. This lets the brushes soak up the shampoo in all the bristles. Make sure you keep the handles as dry as possible as getting them wet can encourage rusting and it's damaging to the longevity of the brush life!


3. Next, run the brushes under a luke warm tap and watch the makeup run off the brush. Make sure you always have your brush facing downwards as letting water run up the brush will loosen your bristles away from the brush handle. We wouldn't want that especially after saving up for some great makeup tools. I found swirling the brush around on the back of your hand helps to ensure you get rid of all makeup that's hiding in the bristles.


4. At this stage brushes which only have a light amount of make up on will most likely be clean. However, if the water is still not running clear work some more shampoo in to the bristles, rinse, repeat until your happy your brushes are germ free and the water is running clear.


5. Once your satisfied give the bristles a good squeeze to get rid of as much excess water as you can.


6. Now leave your brushes to dry on a flat surface. Like I said before this is really important as drying them upright can lead to the brushes from loosening.

That's it now you have happy and healthy brushes ready for your next makeover!

Lastly....
  • Wait 24 hours before you use the brushes again so they are thoroughly dry. 
  • You can give your brushes a quick clean after each use by spraying them with a makeup brush cleaner and then wiping down with a kitchen towel. 
  • Try and store your brushes in a dry place away from dust if possible.
  • Clean brushes that you use for liquid makeup such as foundation weekly.
  • Try and clean powder brushes using this technique at least monthly. 
  • A clean brush makes it easier to apply makeup and you can go about your day knowing your face is clean. 

Does anyone else clean there brushes this way? Or do you have any other ways to clean your brushes that is more effective?

Wednesday 7 December 2011

Wednesday Waffle & why I've just signed up for Glossybox!


  • I want to be able to make the perfect shortbread and chewy biscuit before 2012...Jeez louise that gives me 25 days! I'll keep you posted how this goes. 
  • I'm excited to make Christmas hampers. I've found some really yummy recipes all over the internet to make some treats to put in them one being for Reese's! 
  • I don't know what I want to do with my life so I'm hoping the New Year brings some clarity
  • Being a clean freak I get an unhealthy satisfaction out of cleaning my make up brushes and will be posting about it soon.
  • My views on Christmas shopping are in line with the Argos advert. Why get so cray cray people. Mooch about in stores for inspiration, skip the queues and order/reserve online!
  • You know it's cold outside when you have to sleep with layers of moisturiser on your face to ensure your skin has a speedy recovery from dry patches.
  • Am I the only one who has a double bed but still sleeps on one side of it? 
  • Last but not least, I've ordered my first Glossybox!!! Stylist had a fab discount code last week and after reading over on their Facebook page that their Christmas box is going to be their best yet I couldn't resist. I'm excited to see what I get in it and I hope it is worthwhile. I really like the idea of beauty boxes as you get to try out loads of different products you wouldn't normally purchase. Many people think that they shouldn't be charging for 'samples' as you can get them free at beauty counters. Hello people we're in a recession it's extremely difficult to get a free glass of lemonade on short haul flights let alone getting a free sample at a beauty counter. I'm a sucker for pretty things and if all else fails the beautiful box can be reused to organise my make up! 
Has anyone else signed up to the December Glossybox?


Glossybox

Monday 5 December 2011

A girl can never own too much leopard print....



I got the inspiration for these eyes from Karla who works with MUA and thought I'd give them a go! **Excuse the bushy eyebrows my threading lady is on holiday : (


They are really easy to create and here is everything I used:



  • Sephora Moonshadow baked palette - I used  the gold on the top row and brown on the bottom right of this Sephora palette  
  • Liquid Eyeliner - I used M.A.C and e.l.f cream liner in black
  • Pencil Eyeliner - M.A.C
  • High Lengths Mascara - Clinque
  • Brushes - Fearne Cotton range for boots and e.l.f cosmetics.
I'm not going to give you a step by step guide on how to recreate this look because the lovely Karla has done a splendid job over on the MUA blog here: http://muacosmetics.blogspot.com/2011/11/mua-goes-wild-with-leopard-print-eye.html

I love this Sephora Moonshadow baked palette as all the colours shimmer and sparkle once on and they are really pigmented. The best thing about this palette is that the colours can be used in the day or evening. My favourite is the gold on the top row. 

I'm still getting to grips with the e.l.f cream liner I purchased when they had a special offer recently. It's really good at helping to add some va va voom and does gives a really strong finish. 

The brushes I used were a mixture of the new e.l.f brushes I purchased (which I will be doing a post on later this week) and Fearne's brush range which can be purchased from boots. Both are really good and I love the leopard print design on Fearne's range.


I used a new mascara on my eyes today, High Lengths mascara by Clinique. I got it as a free gift with my purchases during their 'Bonus Time' offer. I didn't even have apply to many coats of mascara and it's worked really well in lengthening my lashes. However, it does feel weird using a comb to apply instead of a normal mascara brush.



Do you own any Sephora products? Would you like to see swatches from this set?