Vintage tea party with the bestie

A random idea but me and my best friend ended up having a a vintage tea party, We wore our best vintage pieces in terms of clothes and jewellery, made cupcakes and sat at a very decorated table filled with cake decor and name tags.

Using all sorts of cake decoration we kinda just decorating the cakes though they overflowed we still enjoyed eating em.

Once in a while it's nice to take a break from the mature adult world and enter a kiddish realm where all you do is colour and decorate.

I never had a tea party before but it's one of them crazy things that has been checked off my list.

L'OREAL new nude magique BB cream review

Say hello to the new BB cream from L'OREAL. I just had to try this it since the word 'magique' intrigued me.

There are two shades light and medium, so obviously i opted for the medium shade. When i tested a bit on my hand i was shocked to see that it came out really white but me being how i am i didn't read the label properly haha. The cream eventually CHANGES colour to suit your skin tone.. I was amazed at the results because it happened to match the skin perfectly though it took a while to achieve the colour.

In stores this costs £9.99

It gives a dewy finish and it blends out evenly, some say that it leaves a orange tint but it surely depends on the colour of you skin tone or they just used the wrong shade.

I am pleased with the concept behind this BB cream but i think they need to reinvent the shades more and be more specific e.g. if you was a yellow toned or a neutral toned.

When i used the BB cream it didn't give any orange tints but the only way for you to know is to actually try out the product yourself because i don't want to misguide anyone in all honesty.

And eventually it blended well into my skin... appears flawless and the right shade too!

L'Occitane brightening instant exfoliator sample review

Here are the samples to the NEW L'Occitanes range of brightening skincare. I went last week to give L'Occitane a visit to browse through their skincare products and i must say i was really impressed especially with their famous hand cream! 

I wanted to purchase a facial scrub for quite some time but i wanted to get a good quality one and this one has the advantage... It brightens the complexion too!

I was told by the sales assistant to use this sample in run up to the consultation which i have booked with my beautiful sister in law for the 5th of April.

It's hard to show in pictures how my skin looked before and after so instead am going to explain how this changed my skin, The scrub is white in colour with grains and your supposed to apply it on dry skin, massage it and then rinse off. 

Once i rinsed it off i felt that my skin was smoother, didn't feel dry or tight. The oiliness was gone and i felt that my face did look a bit bright.. no joke!

Even for the first application this product worked wonders.. am going to do another application just before i go to my consultation and see what difference it has really made to my skin. You are only supposed to use this scrub once every couple of days.

I am looking forward to the consultation and i am hoping to buy the full size of the scrub which costs £24.00 for a 75ml tube.

NEW CHANEL make up brushes

Think of your new set of Chanel make-up brushes in the same way as you would any Chanel accessory. Invest now, and you'll be glad every time you use them. I particularly adore the large, super-soft Powder Brush (Princeau Poudre Biseaute 2, £42), perfect for finishing off your make-up look with a sweep of finishing powder, and the Angled Lip Brush (£21): just the right size and shape for applying a lovely lip colour.

Make up cupcakes

It has been a while since i done my random ramblings but i had to post these up! these are by far THE best make up cupcakes i have ever seen! the Nars cupcakes look so realistic! and it's my fave too! one day i would love to own some make up cupcakes too... and if i had to choose a make up brand then it would obviously be CHANEL!

Images courtesy of Google

Pick n Mix bracelets (latest ones)

This is my favourite bracelet collection till date! I usually like looking for unique pieces and statement jewellery. I tend to go H&M, Accessorise, Vintage thift markets or shops and Asian shops for bangles.

From left to right: H&M a year ago, loved how it's multiple bracelets in one. Miss Selfridge, who doesn't love pearl bracelets?! A present from my aunty, she bought this in Majorca. An asian shop, part of a huge bangle set but this was the biggest bangle in the set and i happen to like the design on it and finally a vintage watch my mom gave to me, I like the black enamel and the old design of the watch since they combine well.

Bows and Pearls celebrates it's 100th blog post!!!

WOWEE! reached a hundred posts already! I want to thank all my followers (new followers too!) everyone who has liked my official Bows and Pearls page and to my followers on my new official Bows and Pearls twitter page!

This was something i started doing in my spare time but i didn't think it would get popular, average 100+ hits a day all over the world! as shown on my stats page.

I hope everyone still continues to like my blog and show support wherever! this was something so small but i can see that it will turn into something very big! (inshALLAH)

Thank you to everyone who reads my blog posts everyday because it goes to show am not putting in so much effort for nothing.

All i need now is more followers!

Here are the links to my twitter and facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bows-and-Pearls/258447720877743 

https://twitter.com/#!/zarabowspearls 

Stay tuned for more make up, jewellery,hair,vintage,fashion,reviews and tutorial posts.

Peace and love

Zara

My asian bridal eye make up look

I attempted to do another colour combination on my eye to see how it would come out, i took inspiration from this image I saw on facebook on a make up page and the colours that were used was blue and yellow.

I don't usually go for colours like that but they combine really well and gives a pop of colour to anyone's complexion. The trick is to just have one area with colour and keep everything else neutral and nude.

in flash you can't really see much colour but the butterfly's good!

Do you think the combination of yellow and blue combines well or do they clash?

Be sure to keep updated by following my twitter page - https://twitter.com/#!/zarabowspearls

Like my Facebook page too! - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bows-and-Pearls/258447720877743

Asian bridal eye make up

So here are some images that I found to be quite the attention pulling look. Asian bridal make up always has drama on the eyes and the colours cleverly match the outfit of the bride too. It can be a 2 tone look or it can be one colour but it all depends on the bride. I personally think two tone colours look better and you might as well add some colour to your make up since it's only the eyes that do the talking.

Images courtesy of Google.

Purple/silver eye make up.. my take on maybelline's makeup ad

Me and my best friend where shopping in Boots and she came across this ad, she really liked this look and so i suggested why don't i try this look on you? In the ad you can see that the eyeshadow goes all the way up to the eyebrow but i decided to do my take on it.

This look is a high fashion look but it can also be used in Asian bridal make up too because the eyes have the most drama than any other feature.. I will post some pictures of Asian bridal make up soon and then i will also post some of the eye make up i have done and how i would do Bridal make up.

As you can see, i used bright purple eyeshadow and silver eyeshadow to create this smokey eye effect.

My friends reaction... 'WOW' 

My quest to find the ultimate eyeliner... is now over!

BEHOLD... Maybelline's new eyeliner called the master precise liquid liner. Priced at £5.99 (I got mine from Boots) it doesn't break the bank and you will be amazed by this product.

I was in search of a new eyeliner so i went in Boots to look around and i couldn't help but notice the NEW sign near Maybelline and so i went up to see this product and the moment i went to test the eyeliner i went straight to queue up at the tills!

The tip is measured to be 0.4mm (really thin!) and the eyeliner ink really stays, i tested it on my hand and checked if it smudged but it stayed, almost like a permanent marker :o and the black colour is really pigmented and dark. This liquid eyeliner has met all of my criteria and it makes the eyeliner application really easy... You create flicks/cat eyes in a matter of seconds and the pen lets you control the amount of ink you want to use.

My review for this product.

PRODUCT : 10/10

PIGMENTATION : 10/10

TEXTURE : 10/10

LONGEVITY : 10/10

APPLICATION : 5/5

PACKAGING : 5/5


I definitely recommend this product!

My favourite make up sponges

Recently i just bought a new bag of these lovely sponges,i use these for applying foundation since i haven't got the ultimate foundation brush yet, you can use sponges when applying foundation, it really depends on the person. I find that it gives better coverage and lets you control where exactly you want to apply.

I like how each bag has an assorted mixture of sponges (colours and shapes may vary) and since i have never tried a moon shaped sponge i thought let's give it a shot, i really like the smaller wedges because they are ideal for more smaller places and you can really cover all your flaws too.

I recommend these too! and guess what?! there only a pound!! ok i know you might be thinking it's cheap and probably bad quality but trust me these sponges are not at all weak or badly made.

This is my third bag and if it was bad quality would you keep on buying the same product? I don't think so.

Spring/Summer 2012 Beauty trends

After some researching i have came across the following trends for this season and that is bold brows, pops of colour and the 'fresh faced' look.

Bold brows: currently at the runways model were showing their brows in an natural shape, use a brow pencil to add extra colour and definition.

You can find this look at these runways: Derek lam,Altuzarra,Diane Von Furstenberg, Giles, Suno,Versace and Missoni.

Diane Von Furstenberg

Altuzarra

Derek Lam

Giles

Suno

Missoni

Versace

Versace

Colour pop is another trend at the catwalks this season with lots of blue hues. The spring and summer seasons demand colour and well here it is!

You can find this look at these runways: Louise gray, Manish arora, Moschino cheap & chic, Paul costelloe and Vivienne westwood red label.

Manish Arora

Moschino cheap and chic

Moschino cheap and chic

Paul costelloe

Paul costelloe

Vivienne westwood red label

Vivienne westwood red label

Louise gray

Fresh faced: It was nice to see this trend something which i have been doing lately. There is nothing better than having a foundation that actually matches your skin tone, To check if the foundation matches use some foundation on your jaw line rather than on your hand and check  it in natural light. I also recommend going for regular facials to keep your skin looking radiant and feeling fresh too!

You can find this look at these runways: Giambattista Valli, Costume national, Givenchy, Missoni and Stella McCartney.

Giambattista Valli

Giambattista Valli

 Costume National

Givenchy

Missoni

Missoni 

Stella McCartney

Contouring: This trend is my fave! there's nothing like a good contour. This gives the illusion of the ideal high cheekbones just like the ones model have. You use a dark bronzer and apply it on your cheek (but you have to make that face where you suck your cheeks in, i call it the fish face) You then apply a highlighter on top of where you have applied the bronzer simply so  all the attention goes on your cheeks and because the light hits there first it gives the illusion of high cheekbones.

You can find this look at these runways: Proenza Schouler and Sass & Bide.

Proenza Schouler   

Sass & Bide

And lastly Retro glamour which is a take on the 1940s make up where there is eyeliner, red lips and curls in the hair. I like the eye looks of this trend because i prefer eyeliner over eyeshadow.

You can find this look at these runways: Christian Dior,Jean Paul Gaultier and Zac Posen.

Jean Paul Gaultier

Christian Dior

Zac Posen