My 3 Minute, affordable Make Up Essentials

Style Theory: As make up goes I am fairly low maintenance and certainly no expert but I have my trusty 8 make up items I literally cannot live without and take me from looking awful in the morning to just about passable... They are my tried and tested face-savers and all fairly inexpensive so I thought I would share them with you... 

The Much Needed Morning Mini Face Lift

After cleansing and moisturising I use Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, a classic that has been a bestseller for 20 years. I like to think of this a mini face lift in a tube. It makes my skin feel a little tighter, brighter and gives it a glow. It is a great base for bronzer as it makes your skin smooth so bronzer glides on.

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm @John Lewis £29

I always make sure the beauty balm is completely absorbed into my skin before I use my next must have product Bobbi Brown Bronzing Brick.

The Bronzer

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Bronze @John Lewis £33

The bronze version of this shimmer brick is my fave colour but I have to make sure I keep it light (I have a tendency to over bronze..not a good look). I always buy a huge blusher brush to keep the coverage fine as possible and even over my face. I have this cheap blusher brush from Boots . I use the mid browns as eyeshadow (using an eyeshadow applicator) and the white shimmer colour to highlight the top of my cheekbones.

The Eyeliner

Another item I have used nearly for as long as I can remember, my fail-safe liquid eye liner, Rimmel London Exaggerate Eye Liner. I apply this in a line on my eyelids close to the lashes with a little flick at the outer corner of my eye to make my eyes look bigger and wider.

Rimmel London Exaggerate Eye Liner £5.29

I buy the brown version of this liquid eye liner as it is softer looking and not as harsh looking on my eyes as the black. It doesn't smudge or run and stays on all day.

The Mascara

After trying a million and one mascaras I always come back to this one, I love it, like the eye liner it does not smudge or run and gives my eyelashes the volume they need.

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara @Boots £7.99

I find the brush is good on this mascara, it evenly coats every lash and it keeps my eyelashes separate..non clumping.

The Lipliner

Rimmel 1000 Kisses Lipliner £2.99 (Indian pink)

This is the lipliner I have been buying recently, I prefer the Clarins lipliner (which is a creamier, softer pencil) but this one is cheaper and is a good match to the bright pink lipstick I wear. I always, always wear lipliner, it stops my lipstick bleeding, makes my lips look fuller and gives them a more defined shape. I always makes sure my pencil is fairly sharp but rounded so I can line exactly on my lips and avoid a patomime dame look. After applying the lipliner I blot it so it is not too harsh and blends seemlessly in with my lipstick.

The Lipstick

I use two lipsticks at the moment one layered on top of the other, I love a bright pink, it looks great against a tan and in the winter I may move to amore plum pink colour but for now these are my two faves..

MAC All Fired Lipstick £15.50

This is rich lipstick but I find it a little dry after a while so I mix it with a creamy Rimmel Lipstick to off set the dryness and make the perfect texture that stays on my lips all day with the help of Lipcote.

Rimmel London Kate Lasting Finish Lipstick £5.49

This is my favourite shade at the moment it is quite a vibrant pink but mix it with the Mac lipstick and the colour is toned down a shade or two. I put the Mac lipstick on first as a base, blot it then this one on top and a pink/red shade.

Finally my one item I always always buy - The Lipstick Sealant 

Lipcote £3.99

This is my lipstick saviour, it keeps my lipstick in place all day, stops it coming off on anything and stops it bleeding outside my lips. I have been using it since I was 16 so I guess I am quite used to it as I have heard people saying it dries your lips but I do not find it drying at all, it just keeps my lipstick in place and ensures it doesn't smudge..

So there is my 3 minute make up look..genuinely does take 3 mins!

** The two photos on the left are filtered by Instagram...the Clarins Beauty Balm is not a miracle worker although it does help!!

No major revolutionary products here but products I have been using for years and years and for me are fail safe and make my make up routine in the morning super quick.

I would love to hear what you make-up 'must haves' are, do you have any beauty buys you cannot love without, I am up for trying new products so would love to here what your are?

Until next time, Frances xxxx

Trend Baju Muslim - Shura Dress

Shura Dress By Efandoank

Harga : Rp. 295.000

Detail :
Simply n Elegant dress, Dress mewah (pola lebar payung ) bahan Premium Velvet silk,aksen kerut bagian bawah rok, resleting depan (busui friendly), panjang 143cm,LD 104cm + outer blazer cantik bahan jacquard motif ,aksen 2 layer peplum,Allsize fit to XL std,- # tanpa pashmina

Hubungi kami :
BBM CS2 D05C261F
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Facebook Fanpage : Love Hijab Indonesia
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Trend Baju 2017 - Aila Dress dan Hamid Koko

Aila Dress dan Hamid Koko By Airia Fashion

Detail :
Dress menggunakan bahan original crepe premium dengan lapis puring.
Dress tampak cantik dengan aksen berlipat pada perut, tidak memakai karet, dan restleting belakang. Bagian rok dress lebar, terdapat kantong pada dress

Dress menggunakan restleting samping untuk busui, terdapat kancing pada tangan sehingga wudhu friendly

Cocok dipakai untuk berbagai acara dan jalan - jalan.
Koko menggunakan bahan yang sama dengan aksen kantong di depan yang keren, wudhu friendly

Pilihan warna:
white
black
gold
fuschia
cinnamon
tosca
purple

Sizepack:
Ld : S90 M94 L98 XL102 XXL106 XXXL112
Panjang: 142cm

WIWT - Monochrome Magic

Jacket - L K Bennett

Jumper - Boden

Bag - Village England

Jeans - Zara

Trainers - Golden Goose

Jacket - L K Bennett

Jumper - Hush

Bag - John Lewis

Jeans - Mango

Trainers - Marks & Spencer

Morning ladies & happy Friday!

I'm going for a monochrome feel today & dressing down my boucle jacket with a relaxed fit cashmere jumper, some distressed cigarette length jeans & my leopard print trainers & adding an all important splash of red with my bag.

Not sure where this last week has gone it seems to have sped by but fingers crossed time slows down for the weekend.

Enjoy your day & I'll see you in the morning.

WIWT - Kick Flares & Boucle

Jacket - J Crew

Tuxedo Top - J Crew

Belt - The Kooples

Bag - Vestiaire

Kick Flare Chinos - J Crew

Shoes - Boden

Jacket - Miss Selfridge

Top - Marks & Spencer

Belt - Hush

Trousers - Jaeger

Shoes - John Lewis

Happy Thursday ladies.

I'm going for a tailored look today & bringing out a few recent J Crew purchases, including a stunning tuxedo styled long sleeve tee that I managed to pick up in the sale & teaming it with my cropped kick flare chinos & tweed jacket.

Bit of a busy day ahead with the normal work schedule as well as a couple of appointments to fit in so I'm already looking forward to crashing tonight & loosing myself in front of the TV.  I know I say this a lot but these weeks sure do fly by - can't believe it's Friday already tomorrow!

Have a fab day  I'll see you in the morning.

The Shacket + WIWT - A Splash Of Pink

Morning ladies seeing as Spring is on it's way & we're only just over a week away until the clocks go forward I thought today we'd look at a wardrobe necessity for the coming months & that's the shacket, or to you & me an overshirt/jacket. The equivalent of Spring's version to a parka.  

A casual & lightweight jacket that's perfect for throwing on & styling with jeans & a simple tee, not to mention teaming with a simple summer dress or even ideal to dress down some classic cigarette pants.  Generally khaki in nature, although there are some grey, black, denim & white versions out there not to mention camouflage versions as well as embroidered ones, it's something that if you don't already own as soon as you do you'll wonder how you ever managed without one!  

As you can see, I've put together an edit of my favourite currently on the high street above & as always you just need to click on the individual image for further details.  I must admit I'm already planning outfits around the one already hanging in my wardrobe (see here) & this year I'm also planning on accessorising with a brooch or two.  In fact pins & patches & generally customising clothing is set to be huge this season.  I'm currently debating whether to invest a few pennies in these, these & these.

Back to today & I'm going with more blue & this time adding a splash of interest with a flash of hot pink & my kitty flats.  I'm really loving the deep 'V' jumper from Cosy Cashmere - so much so I'm now on the look out for a stripe strapless/boob tube kind of top to wear underneath, which isn't something I ever thought I'd write!!  By the way the brand are actually moving from retail to wholesale so they've currently got a closing down sale on with all items half price!!!  Just click here to get shopping & take advantage of the huge savings :-)

Biker Jacket - Massimo Dutti

Jumper - Cosy Cashmere - now half price!

Camisole - Tesco

Jeans - Zara

Shoes - Charlotte Olympia

Biker Jacket - Mango

Top - Warehouse

Jumper - Cosy Cashmere - now half price!

Jeans - French Connection

Shoes - John Lewis

So ladies are you a fan of the shacket?  Perhaps it's something you love & would be lost without for days when you need an extra layer?  I don't know about you but I find mine incredibly useful as it's so easy to layer it up with a scarf or jumper for warmth not to mention can so easily be thrown on over a simple cami.  For me it's the ideal addition to my wardrobe for days where I want to feel more casual but still be in my comfort zone of wearing a jacket.  In fact I love mine so much I'm seriously tempted by a camo version this year......but then when did I need an extra jacket hanging in my wardrobe?! ;-)  Anyone else thinking of joining me in 'clicking that button' on this style?  As always I'd love to hear your thoughts not to mention your top picks.

Happy 'hump' day ladies, have a fab day & as always I'll see you tomorrow.

Lets get going with summer..a few gems from M&S

M&S £29.50

Style Theory: If you follow me on Instagram you will see these items 'in action' on Instagram stories, I really try to try on or at least see, in real life, the items I write about on the blog so I know the clothes/accessories I am choosing are good quality and whether the fit is good (this is why my blogging is rather infrequent and I do not blog every day just for blogging's sake, I would hate to point you in the wrong direction!!) Some things I am not able to try on but make sure I read all about them, find out what the fabric  is like and if there are videos online I watch them..they are amazing I wish every store would do these videos as they really show how the garment moves and whether it will hang well or not. Anyway, I digress, today I had a local meeting them popped into M&S to see their new Spring Summer range that is hitting stores now. To be honest my wardrobe is boring me and it needs a little interest addded to it so I found a few good tops that are reasonable and will add some much needed newness to my uniform of jeans and trainers.

I did notice that M&S have been working on their prices (my work in buying for years means I can see a price re-structure a mile off!) so the clothes are definitely, in general, quite reasonable compared with Topshop etc who seem to be putting their prices up.

Here are a few things I tried on and apologies, there are some screen grabbed snaps from instastories so I am mid talking hence the attractive face..

M&S Pure Cotton Checked Top £29.50

This is a cute top, I love the arm detail and the frill at the base, it hides a tummy perfectly. I would size down one size, above I am wearing a size 10 and I do need a size 8. It is quite a short top, fine on me as I am small but maybe would need to be worn with a vest top underneath if taller.

Stripe Wide Leg Trousers £45

Stripe Wide Leg Trousers £45

These trousers look so much better in real life than on the website. They are a silky material (it is viscose but looks so much better, very luxe) They look really expensive and are a gold and black rather than cream and black. I actually really liked them paired with my red jumper and in the summer would wear them with a red or white boho top and flat tan sandals. They are true to size (I did find them a little tight across my tummy but bareable!) in the photo above I am wearing a size 10 short and at short them are the perfect length (I am 5ft3)

Long Sleeve Yoke Blouse £27.50

Long Sleeve Yoke Blouse £27.50

This top was great for the price although I was sure it was £25.50 in store?! (I may be wrong!) It looks great tucked into jeans and has lovely details. Not a forever top (the quality is not the best) but one to give your wardrobe a little lift..

Indigo Range £35

Cannot find this online and not a great photo but it was a cute blue broderie anglais top - I picked up a 14 by mistake but I think my normal size would be the perfect fit, in store in the Indigo range.

Cotton Broderie Shift Dress £55

Cotton Broderie Shift Dress £55

Loved this dress, it is beautifully cut in at the arms for a flattering look, you would have to wear with a strapless or multiway bra so the straps can't be seen. I sized down to a size 8. I would wear with neutral strappy heels (below) 

Office £60

for day time with these..

Palmairas Sandals £42

These are so comfortable and blend into tanned feet, they are flattering and once you wear them on holiday you will never take them off!

Indigo range £27.50

Indigo range £27.50

A light, easy to wear top, it will look great in the summer with a pair of levis cut off shorts and white supergas, for now toughen up with a camo or khaki jacket, jeans and trainers.

Leather block heel sandals £49.50

How good are these sandals? They are so Isabel Marant for under £50! I didn't see them in my local M&S but am desperate to try them on. Perfect with black dresses or skinny jeans (see below)

Photo via Pinterest

M&S £35

Love these shoes they are so Kylie/SJP with a Halston Heritage style summer dress they will look amazing!

So there is a little round up of my findings today, these can all be seen on my Instagram stories until tomorrow evening (Weds 15th March) There are more exciting clothes hitting the shop floors now so fashion will be getting exciting again!

As always I would love to hear your thoughts and comments, Fran xx