Hogmanay Inspired Look

Last night I was extremely bored and decided to do a makeup look inspired by Hogmanay (New Years Eve in Scotland).  Although Hogmanay takes place at night during the cold, dark Scottish winter, I always associate it with both warmth and light as a lot of the coverage of the various events across the country involve fire (like Up Helly Aa, the Fire Twirling at Stonehaven and the fires and lighting in Edinburgh Castle) and of course everyones homes are warm and lit up as everyone welcomes in the New Year plus the skies are always full of fireworks.  Like most Scots, I love Hogmanay and consider it to be the main event of the year (my Mother never really got to celebrate Christmas as a child and all emphasis was on Hogmanay, so the traditions in her family were kept as we were growing up- although we got Christmas as well). So this look tries to capture the warmth and sparkle of Hogmanay (although the photographs don't show it too well, it is much more vibrant, the colours better defined and sparkly in reality).

Anyway, hope the New Year is good to everyone and you everyone stays safe if they are out celebrating.

Happy New Year!

TFSI
Sleek Molten Metal in Gold- Lid
Sugarpill Goldilux- lid and middle 1/3 on lower lashline
Barry M Orange (77) Dazzle dust- inner 1/3 of crease
Barry M White Gold-y (15) Fine Glitter Dust- over 77 and inner 1/3 lower lashline.
GOSH loose eyeshadow in Fox- outer 2/3 of crease
MAC Black Tied-Crease and outer 1/3 of lower lashline
MAC Gold Dusk-Highlight
Collection 2000 Glitterliner in Funk (it is gold)- over Goldilux
Bourjois Glittery liquidliner- Upper lashline
Bourjois Clubbing mascara- Black
GOSH Velvet Touch Liner in Black- Waterline

Review: Ciaté Nail Polish

Ciaté Nail Polish in Regatta (£9.00).

I had been keen to try this brand for quite some time but had never got round to ordering anything until a local department store started stocking it. The presentation of the nail polishes is fantastic with lots of bright colours, cute but stylish bottles and at £9.00 were not extortionate. As the selection was quite good I had considered buying 2 or 3 but managed to restrain myself and only buy Regatta, a navy blue with specks of silver shimmer in it. I'm glad I only bought one as I was seriously disappointed. The polish applied smoothly and even with one coat it went on opaque and did not look streaky and I was delighted. However, my delight did not last long. Once the polish had dried it looked very dull and almost powdery, I was quite disappointed but even then it wasn't too bad as once I had applied a top coat as it took away a lot of the dullness although I would have expected it to be a bit better.  The worst thing has got to be how badly and quickly it chips. I have tried everything I can think of to make it last longer but to no avail. Within two hours of application (when all I had been doing is watching tv) it was chipping, I was a bit irritated by this as no other nail polish I have used in about 10 years has chipped so quickly and under so little stress. If it had been a new company or a cheap polish I wouldn't have been so annoyed but Ciaté have been around for a few years and £9.00 isn't really that cheap (especially in comparison to the fantastic Barry M polishes which cost about £3.00). I had considered that it could just have been the Regatta colour/formula which was the problem but I spoke to one of my friends who had used them and she had the same problem with different colours and formulations. By time I had had it on for about 5 hours, I had to buy some nail polish remover as it looked really untidy, more in line with having worn it for 2 or 3 days (and having cleaned the house, typed and bathed/showered with hot water- the usual day to day stuff). The 'long lasting' comment on the bottle is a bit of a joke.

In short, I wouldn't buy this again and I was disappointed as I had expected something wonderful and got something I would have thought should cost £3 or £4. The dullness without a top coat I could deal with but the ease with which it chips is harder to overlook and it is a pity.

2 coats over an OPI base coat and under an OPI top coat.

EOTD: Golden Gothic

Sorry, I haven't posted for a while as I've been a bit busy.  Last week I started a new job- it is only temporary but I'm hoping to get something more permanent  after Christmas. Sadly, due to the nature of my job makeup is strictly forbidden as is perfume, nail polish, strong smelling cosmetics, products containing nuts and jewellery, we must also wear some rather unattractive hair nets and overalls. In short, it is well outside of my comfort zone, although that had nothing on the horror of standing for 8 hours (which is going to be 12 as of tonight for the next 2 and a half to three weeks, although the pay should be quite good provided the shifts don't kill me, lol). So, in order to get back into the swing of blogging again, here is a look I did a couple of weeks ago:

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack-tightline
TFSI- Prime
Sleek Molten Metal in Gold- Lid
Sugarpill Chromalust  in Goldilux- Lid
Body Shop Glitter in Gold- Over Goldilux
Sugarpill Chromalust in Stella- Outer 1/3 and crease
MAC e/s in Black Tied- to blend out Stella
MAC e/s in Dazzlelight- Highlight
MAC Blacktrack- Upper Lashline and Waterline
Benefit Badgal e/l- Lower lashline
T.F. Lash Injection Mascara
Brown e/s on brows.

This is quite a nice look for this time of year, I paired this up with a Black Barry M lipstick.  I would use and even lighter Foundation (I find it difficult to get the Stargazer stuff to work on me, so I was stuck with my usual NC15) to make the look much more gothic.