Truro Trend #streetstyle

I took to the streets on Wednesday to see if I could capture some of Truro's hottest street style! Sadly the weather was pretty rubbish so most people had donned waterproofs over wool and brollies over bralets but I did manage to find a few gems on my hunt around!

Holly. Jacket and Shorts - Enjoy Vintage Truro

This jacket stoof out instantly, from the bold colour blocking, to the shoulder pads and the trimming, I love everything about this jacket! It definitely brightened up the grey day!

Aline (left) layering vintage All Saints and Anon (right) hat, top, jeans and boots from TOPSHOP, coat from New Look.

Layering is always a key trend for autumn winter. Like Aline on the left you can layer lots of thinner pieces to create a look full of depth or like our blonde bombshell on the right you can have a simple outfit layered with one statement coat. Both girls look great!! 

OOTD - Rachael. Duster Coat, Check Shirt, Jeans - TOPSHOP. Shoes - H&M

I am loving Rachael's colour co-ordinated outfit. With black jeans and shoes acting as a solid base it allows the check shirt to stand out, the green duster coat adds subtle layering whilst also pulling on the green from the check and the look is tied together by the matching red lippy! LOVE IT!!

It's my plan to get some more street style snaps from now on!

Get those outfits ready peeps... I'm coming for you!

Much love

R x

find your foundation

A good base is key for all other make-up you wear. Also, the better your base the more youthful you will appear, after all no-one wants to have flaky or in contrast a shiny face. Just like choosing skincare, you should match your foundation too your skin type. This post will try to break down (hopefully) some key points on choosing the right foundation!

1. KNOW YOUR SKIN TYPE!
There are lots of skin types, and much like choosing your skincare routine, you should be equally as aware of your skin when choosing foundation.

Normal - neither too dry nor too oily. If you have barely visible pores, a radiant complexion and little sensitivity you would have a 'normal' skin type. You are lucky as you can choose almost any foundation to wear (you lucky thing you!)

Combination - a skin type which is dryer in places and more oily in others. It tends to be that the cheeks are drier and the T zone (nose, forehead and chin) are oilier.  This skin can look shiny with overly dilated pores with increased risk of blackheads.

Dry - dry skin can look almost dull, with almost invisible pores. It can feel tight and there is greater risk of lines and wrinkles.

Oily - this skin type is prone to more blemishes. With more open pores and increased sebum production spots and blackheads are more easily formed. Excess oils mean skin can appear shiny.

Sensitive - sensitive skin can show up through redness, a burning sensation and itching. This may be due to a medical issue and if you are unsure of why your skin is so sensitive then seek medical advice.

2. CHOOSE A FOUNDATION TO MATCH YOUR SKIN

Cream Foundation - ideal for normal, combination and dry skin. Perfect for more uneven complexions as it provides heavier coverage. The finish of these foundations is dewy with a medium to full coverage. For application use a sponge or stippling brush. A brilliant cream foundation is the MaxFactor Whipped Creme Foundation which provides a demi-matte finish whilst also giving hydration as well. At £9.99 it is also decently priced.

Liquid Foundation - ideal for all skin types but best suited to dry and mature skin. With a light to medium coverage this foundation comes in a variety of finishes from matte to satin. If you have oily skin then choose a matte finish and if you have drier skin then go for a more satin finish as this will provide more moisture. Apply with a foundation brush. I love the MAC Studio Sculpt SPF 15 Foundation. It is a creamy, gel-based foundation that provides medium buildable to high coverage with a natural satin finish. It is long-wearing and water-resistant. As with many premium brands this foundation is pricey at £25 but you do get 40ml for that which is 10ml more than most foundations so cost effective!

Pressed Powder - perfect for oily skin types. They provide a matte finish with light to medium coverage. They absorb excess oils whilst evening the complexion. Apply with a densely packed powder brush for great coverage. I don't tend to use these so this was hard for me to review, but the one powder foundation that keeps coming up is the Bobbi Brown Illuminating Finish Powder Compact Foundation. At £32 this product offers a lasting full coverage with no oil - so it is perfect for oily skin. It also has light reflective pigments which help mask imperfections thus evening out the complexion.

Mineral Foundations - great for all apart from oily skin. These foundations are great for those with sensitive skin. They provide a demi-matte finish in a light to medium coverage. For best application I would suggest using a kabuki brush to buff it onto the skin. Bare Minerals has the best mineral foundations out there. The "weightless foundation provides adjustable sheer-to-full coverage for a flawless look". It is, like the MAC foundation £25 for a 8g. It is definitely worth the money though. Your skin will look great. 

Tinted Moisturiser - for normal to dry skin. Suitable for those who need extra hydration with a hint of colour. A sheer to light finish with giving a 'no make-up' look. Apply with a foundation brush. The Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser with SPF 20 is a great tinted moisturiser. It evens the complexion without hiding the skin beneath. Coming in at £33 for 50ml it is the priciest product on my list but after trying a sample of it I would definitely recommend it as it feels and looks great on the skin. 

BB Cream - ideal for all skin types, but especially good for blemish prone skin. The active ingredients in BB creams help to reduce blemishes whilst providing a light to medium coverage. Apply with a foundation brush. Garnier have produced (and correct me if I am wrong) the first British BB Cream. At £9.99 at Boots this product instantly ‘perfects’ the skin giving a light and sheer coverage meaning imperfections look blurred with fine lines being softened. Your skin will look luminous, smoother and more even. Definitely a more dash than cash product - it is brilliant value for money!

3. COLOUR

Pink Undertones - choose a yellow based foundation to counter-balance the cooler tones in your skin.

Yellow Undertones - and (surprise surprise) in contrast choose a pink toned foundation to counter the warmer tones.

It may also seem obvious but don's choose a shade too pale, or too dark. This will look false, the perfect base should just disappear into your skin.

Most premium brands will stock more shades than high-street brands. If you cannot justify or afford a premium brand and can't find the right shade from a high-street make then buy a couple a mix them! I am a firm believer in mixing foundations, this was you will get a truly personalised shade to match your skin. 

Always test a foundation on your jaw, as this is the 'truest' representation of your skin colour. Always double check this in daylight, shop lights skew colour terribly! If in doubt ask a friend you trust!


Well, I think I could go on and on but I will leave it there. I hope this has been helpful, let me know of any products you like and I will try and review them if I can.
Comment below. Much love,
R x

#street style - Dark Craft Glamour

I've photographed Rachael for my blog before and when I saw her the other day I couldn't resist snapping her again. I loved her deliciously gothic inspired outfit.

The black dress looks great underneath the burgundy fluffy jumper (bonus points for use of texture!! she was so soft). I'm also loving the cut out leather ankle boots, I basically love black ankle boots (it's hard to go wrong with them).

Also, I am loving Rach's choice of burgundy lip colour, colour coordination at its best!

The Damned: TOPSHOP A/W 13 Makeup Collection

I know I blog a lot about TOPSHOP but I do work there so I have a first look at products!

Today I want to have a look at some of the A/W makeup collection. With Halloween a week today it is aptly named "The Damned". I love this collection and I already own a few products from it!

(I haven't had time to swatch these yet, but I hope too as soon as possible)



My favourite product is the Illuminating Face Powder - £14

Everyone should own a finishing powder and this is one of the best ones I've used.

The product has a  delicate fragrance and is beautiful smooth to the touch. To look at the product, at first glance has a shimmer to it and one may think it is a highlighter however, once buffed onto the skin with a powder brush you get no shimmer at all. The product does two things at once, it mattifies (which is great because no-one wants to be shiny) and it also gently diffuses light hitting the face for a perfectly smooth complexion. 

I'd say go and buy this, but be quick as I have a feeling this will sell out quickly!

Cheek and Eye Duo - £12

Named Bitten Cherry the cheek and duo is a lovely addition to the collection. The compact is split into two halves, one darker pink and one a frosty pale pink.

The darker colour works as a contour/blush when used on the cheeks and the lighter side working well as a highlighter. Also the two can be used on the eyelids for a frosty pink delicately smoky eye.

I've not used this product myself but I think has good potential.

Lips - £8

I have reviewed TOPSHOP lipstick before and I will again because they are great. At £8 each I think these lipsticks are a bargain for their quality. The three I've chosen to review are Wicked (left) Called Up (centre) and Ruthless (right)

Wicked is a lovely burgundy colour and comes in a creamy finish and gives long wearing moisture. This colour looks great with a clear gloss, for high shine vampiric drama.

Called Up has more purple undertones and the final colour is a beautiful berry colour. The finish of this product is again creamy, providing moisture throughout the day.

Ruthless is the most dramatic lipstick in the collection. It has a blue base and comes out a really deep almost black colour. Coming again in creamy finish this product won't dry your lips out. I say for ultimate drama apply a couple of layers and finish with a gentle dusting of translucent powder for a matte finish.

Velvet Lip - £10

A new product out there. Velvet Lip is a ultra pigmented lip cream drying to a powdery soft, ultimate matte finish. It comes in three colour Plush (middle) is a gorgeous purple colour. There is also Raven (right) which is a pure black and Velveteen Ribbons (left) a lovely deep red colour. 

These products dry very quickly so you need to apply as quickly as you can. First line the lips with a lip liner as close in colour to Velvet Lip as you can get and then get applying! It takes some practise as it's not like a normal lip colour but once you get it right it will look incredible.

Eye Gleam - £9

I've been waiting for TOPSHOP to make these and I hope they make more colours as I love them. These can be seen as a good dupe for the MAC paint pots. Eye Gleam is a mousse creamy eyeshadow. Coming at the moment in three colours Winter Frost (left) Bronze (centre) and Noir (right).

The products work great as a base for eyeshadows and as stand alone colours. They are heavily pigmented and have great lasting power. Winter Frost is a lovely pearlescent white colour, as well as an eyeshadow smooth a thin layer under the arch of the eyebrow for a cheeky highlight. Bronze does exactly what it says on the tin, a beautiful copper colour gives rich and warm tones. Noir is just amazing! The colour is a beautifully dark, a inky black colour with shimmer. It looks great in the light and creates a dramatic and sultry smoky eye. 

Matte Nails - £6

Matte nails are the most fashionable nails around at the moment. If you're going to paint your nails this A/W then try a matte nail varnish. Keeping in with the Halloween theme TOPSHOP have created a lovely range of deep, rich matte nail colours.

Brutal (left) is a gorgeous berry/purple colour. Drizzle (middle) is a purple-ly based steel grey (one of my favourites, it's so chic) and also Dress Up (right) a gorgeous red colour, get your vamp on!

Whichever shade you choose, you cannot go wrong with a matte nail.

Like I said I love this collection and I'm sure you will too! Let me know how you get on with any of these products if you go and get them!

Much love

R x

sartorially spooky: the Halloween trend

With Halloween not far away, what would autumn be without a dark and moody trend? The key is in the title, gothic, and black is (as the saying goes) the new black.  This does not mean that I suggest you all dye your hair black and wear extreme platform boots, the fashion industry has moved on to a more sophisticated take on Gothic. 

MEN: Your key item for this is the black super skinny jean. Use this as your base and then create your outfit around this. Another great piece is the black blazer; you can never fail with sharp, crisp tailoring and a black blazer will become so multi functional. You would be silly not to buy one. Why not try layering black mesh over black jersey for a gothic/sports mix? Or keep it smart but teaming a charcoal turtle neck (yes they are back) with a black blazer and tailored trouser? Or keep it grungy by teaming ripped black skinnies with a dark grey oversized sweatshirt. My top tip for this trend is to NOT treat it like a costume. Make it your own; just keep the colour palette dark.

LADIES: The key here is texture and mixing of texture. You will see everything from high shine vinyl to soft matte leathers. Also think lace and velvet. Fur and sheer netting. As with the gents the base colour here is black but there have been some cheeky pops of acid colour (mainly lime green and cerise pink) to break up the monochrome feel. One of my favourite pieces is the TOPSHOP all in one disco suit which provides a great base for layering other items. A good black coat is also going to prove to be a staple investment and I'd say for this trend why not rock a leather biker jacket - it'll keep it edgy. Think dark lipstick too, Urban Decay do a brilliant one called SHAME. It is a gorgeous deep berry colour and will work brilliantly with this trend. 

I recently took this photo of my work colleague Iona as I think this outfit is great. Iona wears the disco all in one (linked above) with a crystal blossom print t shirt and turquoise "Gwenda"stilletoes. The finishing touch for me here is the lace cat ears. It really adds some fun to the whole piece.
All - TOPSHOP

I haven't covered everything because I could ramble for ages and ages and that wouldn't be fun for anyone, but, I will try and get some more pics up as soon as I can because this trend is great!

R x