Androgynous: Being neither distinguishably masculine nor feminine, as in dress, appearance, or behavior.

Sorry I haven't blogged for a week or so. My time has been taken up, trying to organise my life. I've been incredibly inspired and motivated over the past few days, I feel like it's the right time to utilise this and try to work on my career. I adore make-up, I also adore fashion, and I've found I have quite an eye for detail (shit, sorry this is starting to sound like a job application)...

Anyway, I've been window shopping, lusting over some new interview clothes. Your clothes are the first thing an employer notices (that and your smile), it's like a window into your personality... I've interviewed just for shop jobs before and I've seen people turn up in denim shorts and converse. I prefer to look polished, smart and chic. It sounds ridiculously pretentious, but you want your potential employer to think you're serious about the role and that you made that special effort just for them.

This gorgeous little Jacquard blazer has beautiful detailing.
One of my favourites from Zara. View HERE

Love this Zara top. View HERE

These metallic trousers from Topshop can look incredible
teamed with black. Simple, effective and uber stylish. View HERE

This Zara dress looks best with stilletos and a statement necklace
View HERE

LOVE peplum tops. This one from Mango is so flattering.
View HERE

Such a sexy pair of Zara trousers. View HERE

I probably wouldn't wear heels higher than 4inches to an
interview. These are perfect. View HERE

I fell in love with this jacket from Topshop
View HERE

Get on my feet now! Gorgeous smart. sexy shoes from Zara
View HERE

Simple gold bangles from Mango View HERE

Last but not least, a gorgeous statement ring from Mango
View HERE

So here a just a few bits and bobs, it's a bit androgynous, but I love that whole look. It'd be perfect for anything from interviews to meetings or a day in the office. Make an amazing impression and don't forget to stay true to your style and be yourself! You can't go wrong.

XXX

Review: Real Techniques Stippling Brush

Hands up if you love Pixiwoo!!! *hands immediately flailing* For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about Pixiwoo is the YouTube name for the beautiful Samantha and Nicola Chapman, who are also insane make-up artists. Both previously working for MAC Cosmetics, they started their own YouTube channel dedicated to educating us all about make-up. I've probably watched every single video and tutorial they have ever uploaded and when I heard that Samantha had released her own brand of brushes I was thrilled, then sad because I was totally broke, but when I saw the price the excitement came creeping back!

The stunning Samantha Chapman

The brushes are available from Boots or on the Real Techniques website. The stippling brush is £11.99. I've heard mixed reviews about this brush, but I really like it. It's not as soft as I was expecting, meaning it's easier for me to apply foundation, best to put a primer on beforehand to give you a good base for applying your foundation. It's great of you want a light flawless look as I find sometimes if I use my fingers to apply foundation I often end up wearing too much. It buffs into my skin beautifully, I'm really impressed! It will take a little while for me to fully master using this brush, but I can see it producing a really flawless look.

Any make-up artists or make-up enthusiasts should definitely give these a go! Check out the Pixiwoo videos by following this link http://www.youtube.com/user/realtechniques/featured and http://www.youtube.com/user/pixiwoo

xxxx

Morning Mr Magpie

I don't know about you, but I'm so excited that the sun has finally started coming out to play! I can't wait for the summer to arrive, even if (in typical British style) we only get a few weeks of heat. This got me thinking about festival season. My man is taking me away to Portugal for Optimus Alive in July. It's going to be insane! The Cure, The Stone Roses and Radiohead (yes, RADIOHEAD!!!!) are headlining, it was a festival we couldn't miss.

So, I've compiled a little wishlist. It contains my fashion essentials. Most of the fashion is from the amazing Nasty Gal website. I'm loving acid wash denim, cut out bikinis and swing dresses with grungy boots.

A lovely pair of acid wash frayed shorts from Nasty Gal,
perfect for tanning my pins!
View HERE

Stunning dress from Topshop
View HERE

I LOVE Motel Rocks and this is one of my favourite dresses
View HERE

Loving these Navajo print boots from Nasty Gal,
Although they are obscenely expensive...
View HERE

I'm a bikini addict,
usually wearing my bikini tops as bras in the summer
This is a stunner
View HERE

Another pair of acid wash shorts, obsessed much?
Love these ones from Topshop
View HERE

These are awesome for hot days on the beach
And for a tenner they are well worth it!
View HERE

A lovely shawl just in case it gets chilly (ooh there nothing like over preparing)
View HERE

This lovely swimsuit from Asos would look great under some shorts
View HERE

And Lastly (for now)

These shorts are immense, great for the beach, possible moshing, general lounging.
View HERE

What are your festival essentials lovely people?

xxx

Lush Review: Phoenix Rising

I love Lush, I always have. And on my way home from a trip to London, I popped into the store at Victoria station. I really like the staff in there, especially the rockabilly girl that sings between serving, such amazing customer service.

Anyway, I treated myself to the new Phoenix Rising bath bomb. Firstly it looks lovely, a deep purple colour dusted with gold and topped with a cinnamon stick. The smell is gorgeous, it's warming with cinnamon and uplifting with the smell of lemon.

I plopped it in my bath, it sank straight to the bottom (hence the phoenix rising) then it came up looking all green and lovely. It's packed with shea butter, bergamot oil, cassia oil, jojoba oil and cocoa butter. Its left me feeling gorgeously silky soft.

I loved it, give it a try and go run yourself a nice bath, it's £3.15 from any Lush store.

xxx

Don't You Know That Your Toxic...

As it's getting into Spring, finally, I've been craving a bit of colour in my make-up. I generally keep my make-up quite neutral over the winter, with beige, browns and golds but as soon as the sun comes back, the colour pops!

I struggle with lipstick, and being a fake tan worshipper it's hard to find one that suits my skin tone both pale and tanned. So I popped into my local Superdrug, swatched a million lipsticks and found this one!

If you click here, you can purchase this, it's the cheapest I could find it at £4.56 <3

This lipstick is part of the Rimmel Moisture Renew collection, it does what it says on the tin! It stays on for hours and keeps my lips so soft. The colour is beautiful, highly pigmented and manages to makes my teeth look a bit whiter as well (fellow coffee addicts will feel my pain on that one). 

I teamed this colour with some neutral eyes, light eyeshadow with dark only accentuating the socket, and a kitten flick with a small amount of mascara and a bit of blusher.

Lots of coral kisses lovely bloggers xxxxx

The Tracy Anderson Method

I've always had a bit of an obsession with working out, to look at me you wouldn't think so (I love food too much to ever be skinny). It could come from insecurities but every now and again my brain clicks somewhere and I just want to workout, when everything else gets a bit dreary it gives me something to work towards. Don't get me wrong, I'm not striving to be skinny, I genuinely love keeping myself in shape, and after spending a year working in a cupcake shop I've got alot of buttercream to shift!

I've probably tried every fitness DVD, from old school Jane Fonda to Davina McCalls Body Pump, and it was on my journey of discovery through the HMV fitness DVD aisle that I discovered The Tracy Anderson Method. This woman is quite literally a total mentalist! But a genius nontheless. She claims that her workout completely re-engineers the muscular structure, engaging the smaller muscle groups that rarely get used.

There are 3 DVD's available in the UK, these are: The Dance Cardio Workout, Total Cardio Workout and The Mat Workout.

I tried a section of the cardio and my living room won't accommodate my flailing about... So I tried The Mat Workout. It's incredible! Tracy takes you through a warm up followed by a leg section which goes through a series of fluid movements on one leg while balancing on the other, repeated then on the other leg. Then you do the standing abs section, which is basically just Tracy doing a freestyle, but once you get the hang of it (as her guidance is crap) you learn to engage and pull the muscles in so you can feel the abs working. After this is the standing arms section, this is incredibly difficult, you lift your arms out til you resemble a T then move them about whilst not putting them down...AT ALL!! I find this near impossible but I can see the effects already on my arms. If I use the weights in the gym, I instantly put on muscle, with this I can see my arms toning instead of bulking. Then there is a bit more legs, bums and abs to finish.

I love it! She uses some elements of pilates mixed with a workout created from her own insanity, but it's amazing, I can see lines of muscle tone on my tummy, my bum looks round instead of square and my arms look more defined.

Anyone struggling to find a DVD for them, or even just anyone struggling to find motivation (because believe me even if you want to give up,when you see her tiny little body is in front of your eyeballs, you won't give up) I would recommend this completely! Mixed with a good cardio routine you really can tone your body up!

Love Jess xxx

Beauty on a Budget

Bargain...Say it...It's a sweet sound, like honey to the ears. I love a bargain, there is nothing quite like finding something amazing AND cheap, right?

Don't get me wrong, I love expensive products. I think the more you pay the nicer the packaging is, the product lasts longer, you can see the quality you pay for. But sometimes, for whatever reason we all find ourselves a bit brassic. So I've gathered some of my favourite everyday products ranging from £1 - £7.99...

A few bargain bits and bobs from my make-up bag 

Ok so from the left we have ...

- NYC Natural Matte Foundation £2.49, it's a really light liquid foundation, not greasy at all and for the money it's better than expected.
- Garnier BB Cream £7.99, the most expensive product of the lot, I did a little review on it not that long ago, have a look to see what I think about it.
- Collection 2000 Mosaic Glow Bronzer £3.50, I use this everyday, it lasts for ages and gives a healthy glow with a little shimmer.
- Loreal Infallible Concealer £5.49, This is a new find for me. It lasts all day and covers even the worst bags, you only need a small amount for blemishes. Only problem is, the amount you get in the tube is so little, I doubt it will last more than a month.

Barry M Dazzle Dust

- Barry M Dazzle Dusts £4.50 each, ok so that's quite alot for an eyeshadow, but they are so highly pigmented that they last sooo long! And they come in a huge range of colours, these are just some of my favourites!

MUA, Rimmel and Barry M lipsticks, Barry M white liner, and the trusty pot of vaseline.

- MUA products £1 - £2, Honestly I couldn't blow MUA's horn harder if I tried to. I am a fan, a huge fan, not just for myself but for use professionally. Eyeshadows come at a mere £1 each and the quality is incredible. Highly Pigmented, smooth, not clumpy. I use most of their range, these are just a few. Only one very very small fault, the brush in the eyeliner is a bit bendy making it almost impossible to get a good flick, and I love myself a good kitten flick!

- Vaseline Rosy Lips £1.70, Oh the trusty little pots of magic! This is probably pot 1 of 6 for me, I have one in every jacket or handbag, just in case. Call me extreme, but this is amazing. It does what any vaseline does, moisturises and soothes chapped lips, but it has a subtle rosey tint. Making it perfect for everyday use. It's essential to my make-up routine.

- Barry M and Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipsticks £4.49 - £5.49, These are the only red lippies that I wear, the darker colour, which is the Kate Moss for Rimmel, for when I'm tanned and the lighter, the Barry M, when I'm a bit paler. Love them both!

I hope if you ever find yourselves a little strapped for cash, this will give you a bit of inspiration!

Lots of Love xxxx