How to do your makeup like an instagram queen

Hi, my name's Ellie and I'm an Instagram addict. The first step is admitting it to yourself and from there you'll find it easier to quit.... BANTER!! Instagram is the best thing that has happened to basic bitches like me everywhere! One of my favourite things to do is aggressively watch those GORGEOUS girls doing their make up routines in fast motion with catchy tunes in the background. After watching what must be hundreds of these goals tutorials, I've discovered that these Insta Queens don't do their makeup like us mere mortals. They have tonnes of little tips and hacks which can be difficult to grasp in 20 second clips. Thankfully after extensive 'research' I've narrowed down my favourite and most effective top 5 tips to help you do your makeup like an Instagram Queen. PS: Pretty much ALL of these make you look ridiculous at one point but the results are worth it!

1. Crazy Contouring 

Contouring to Instagram is what Cosmopolitans are to Sex and the city, they just wouldn't be complete without each other. By shading areas of your face light with highlighting and others dark with contouring, we and define certain shapes and shadows, allowing us to transform our cheekbones from Mrs Potato Head to Angelina Jolie. Instagram Queen's love using unusual objects to achieve a sharp application, from wads of cash to spoons! Just use a light concealer to highlight under the eyes, the forehead, nose and chin. Similarly use a contour stick or dark concealer to shade in hollows of cheeks, jaw line and outer nose. Next grab a damp beauty blender and dab the hell out of your face until you look fabulous.

SHOP: CONCEALERS: LA GIRL 

2. Sellotape eyes 

Killer eyeshadow and liner is like a must for the Gram. Unfortunately we can't all be Carli Bybel (major Insta Queen) with her perfect, effortless application. FEAR NOT ,sellotape, yup sellotape is the hero of the day here. Find the arch of your brow and angle small strips of tape in line with it, move down until you can stick the tape next to each eye (see below) Then you can blend, shade and draw all over those bad boys without hesitation because after you simply (GENTLY) pull the tape away you're left with a complete on fleek look. This is such a handy tip when you and your friends are getting ready for a night out and someone decides its a good idea to whip out the prinking booze mid glam.

SHOP: EYESHADOW PALLATE: SMASHBOX

LIQUID EYELINER: MAYBELLINE

3. Baking!
Ooo watchu baking?... My face. It's the new trend taking Instagram by storm, involving a WHOLE LOTTA translucent powder and a Flash wipe (makeup desk gets super messy). Once you've applied concealer you want to ensure it lasts hours on end so grab tonnes of powder on a sponge, apply to shown areas on your face and wait around 10 minutes. After doing so simply brush away and you're set, literally.

SHOP: POWDER: E.L.F

4. Strobing 
This is for sure my favourite hack. If you've scrolled through my Instagram before, you'll see I may not be an Insta Queen but I sure as hell love a blinding highlight (despite my Nan asking if I was sweating, NO NAN, I'M GLOWING DAMMIT!) Apply Strobing cream or liquid highlight onto cheekbones, then use a crème product in smaller areas, like Cupids bow and Brow arch. Finally set everything with a powdered highlight and DAZZLE. This trend makes you look dewy, glowy and sparkly af. YASSSSSSSSSS

SHOP: STROBING CREAM: MAC

            WATTS UP CREME HIGHLIGHTER: BENEFIT

            SOFT AND GENTLE POWDER: MAC

5. The Kylie Lip

Last but not least we turn to this generations highest form of Instagram royalty, The Kardashain/ Jenner clan, more specifically the youngest of the bunch , Kylie Jenner. If there's one thing the world knows this girl for it's her lips. Since we don't all have the spare cash to get your suckers plumped, Instagram has shown us many, many ways to copy Kylie's signature style. Grab some dark nude lip liner and over line those bad boys (careful not to go to clown like... been there). Next with a lighter shade of lipstick fill in the centre of your lips. Finally in order to make them look as much like your own as possible you're gonna wanna make them matte. A little Insta trick I've tried and tested is to put some tissue over your mouth and brush translucent powder all over it. All done!

SHOP: LIPLINER: MAC (WHIRL)

LIPSTICK: MAC (BRAVE)

Read more »

SHARE:

0 comments

How to get shiny, healthy hair in the winter using ogx

Good Jesus I miss Summer! Everything just looks better and with no effort made, tanned skin and white teeth. Once Winter hits, especially in London the elements just play havoc with your hair! Suddenly you go from majestic Mermaid to tired, dull peasant. However praise the heavens, I discovered the wonders of the OGX coconut range! Coconut has so many benefits for your locks like stimulating hair growth, moisturizes dryness, adds lustre, shine and softness, prevents breakage and split ends and even helps reduce hair loss. So  here's a hair routine to swear by in these awkward Winter months. WE GOT THIS!!

STEP ONE: Wash your hair using the OGX Coconut water shampoo and conditioner. If you swap the routine and use the conditioner first then you wash away the weight leaving you perfect locks to bitch flip. Also although it's not particularly enjoyable, the colder the water the better the results!

STEP TWO: Grab some OGX Coconut milk serum and work it through damp hair. This stuff literally saved me and my best friend on holiday. When we discovered THERE WAS NO HAIR DRYER in our hotel room, I whipped out this stuff and we drowned ourselves in it, and our hair dried naturally so well! To think the squad took the mick out of me and my 3kg toiletry bag at the airport... YOU'RE WELCOME!

STEP THREE: Blow dry your hair for best results (remember your heat protection spray!) but feel free to let it dry naturally too. Once your hair is dry spray some OGX Coconut oil conditioning mist all over and brush through. Again this stuff is fantastic and gives your hair the most fabulous shine, plus it's super handy to use before heated tools which can dry out and damage locks. 

STEP FOUR: Now despite ALL these products believe it or not, after heated styling tools are used hair can STILL look a little dull. WORRY NOT Queens because OGX has one more thing up its sleeve. Sea mineral moisture shimmering spray, it's very different from Sea salt spray which gives your hair kinks and curls, this simply adds shimmer and moisture and will keep you bright like a diamond all day long. Now you're all done and ready to dazzle!

Read more »

SHARE:

0 comments

9 Things To Pack For Paris

Recently I got a flood of distressed messages from one of my very closest friends, the fabulous Lucy Lu. She was having a minor stress about, well life, she was concerned that her amazing decision to train as a children's nurse meant missing out on seeing the world. So, let me set the scene, I've been working everyday in a job that I seem to have lost all joy in, all of my best friends have scattered across the country for Uni and the 'gap year of my dreams' just wasn't shaping up to what I thought it would... like the closest I got to an exotic adventure was ordering Bombay Spice for one while watching Breakfast at Tiffany's. Therefore, I'll admit, I took advantage of Luce's minor quarter life crisis and suggested  that we just throw caution to the wind and book Paris for the following week. We gathered our savings, bought some cute clothes and hopped on a plane! We had the most amazing time and OF COURSE managed to get plenty of fabulous pictures, all with the purpose of breaking down some simple ways to dress for the chicest city in the world, I hope you all enjoy it and if the trip taught me anything it would be that sometimes you just have to ask 'why the hell not?!' 

1.Cute Statement Bag
When you're strolling around Parisian streets you should always be holding something fabulous, perfect and desirable, yep... a crepe, in the OTHER hand though nothing will top off your outfit more than a cute bag. Parisian style is chic and simple so it's the perfect place to don a jazzy bag.

SHOP: STRADAVARIOUS

2.Sheer Blouse

Ooo la la! I originally had a super cute leather skirt to go with this chic little blouse but believe it or not my tiny little bum ripped the zip! However I still made sure to get this top out because this type of material is PERFECT for the French city

SHOP: STRADAVARIOUS
3. Leather Trousers
SANDYYY! All through Paris fashion week we saw celebrities, models and bloggers alike wearing leather. Like I said, my skirt ripped but it was ok because in my very, very tightly packed suitcase I had these bad boys! You can wear them day or night and handy tip, if like me, you spill ice cream all over them they wipe off like new!

SHOP: STRADAVARIOUS
4.Flats
Luckily Paris is very walkable, we managed to see so many amazing things each day by just walking. Thankfully we remembered FLATS! These were a definite necessity if you want to be a real tourist. Just FYI Paris is covered with little food stands so it's like being rewarded with Nutella every street you conquer! 

SHOP: NEW LOOK
5. Faux Fur Jacket
This was definitely my favourite item I somehow managed to squeeze into my hand luggage- yep ALL this in one cabin sized case, there was some definite sitting on the top of it while poor Lucy Lu struggled with the zip at the airport, this was shortly after the security judged me for my 4 plastic bags stuffed with makeup. Moral of the story is, if you really want to embody the Paris vibes then a fur jacket is definitely worth the suitcase space.

SHOP: H&M
6. Black Turtle Neck
Audrey Hepburn once said 'Paris is always a good idea' so as she is my Queen I thought I'd straight up copy her signature style with an all black ensemble topped with a super comfy turtle neck, definitely worth the investment for your next trip.

SHOP: STRADAVARIOUS
7. Chic Heels
Firstly,it was totally worth the frostbite for these pictures and quite frankly gave me an excuse for wine at dinner... to warm me up of course. Paris is known for being the chicest city on earth so it's basically the law that your shoe game needs to slay. A pair of patent nude pumps will NEVER let you down. 

SHOP: CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN
8. Kim K Coat
A big coat like this you just NEED in the city. I cannot tell you what a Queen I felt like strolling through the airport in my over the knee boots and long coat flying in the air conditioning breeze, that is until we realised we had 2 hours to spare and ended up crouched in the airport eating a tub of Pringles and 11, yes 11 French cakes... each.

SHOP: MISSGUIDED
9. Sunglasses
I bought these fabulous sunnies with the full intention of wearing them come rain or shine so it was a pleasant surprise that I genuinely needed them in the end! Either way a big, retro shaped pair of shades, once again gives off some serious Audrey vibes and is a perfect accessory for your trip.

SHOP: STRADAVARIOUS

Major thanks to my Queen and photographer, Lucy Lu (or Mumma Goose Luce) your picture skills and clumsiness kept me entertained constantly

Read more »

SHARE:

0 comments