Yesterday my nails were the best bit EOTD

I used Illamasqua Blow (baby yellow cream) and Barry M Raspberry (dark raspberry red) nail polishes for this freehanded half moon manicure. It's particularly tricky for me as I have no natural half moons to base it on. As much as I'd love to make it pristine and perfect, using those ring binder, circle-around-the-holepunch, stickers just seems too slooooowww to me. This manicure took me half an hour including filing and removing the previous chipped polish. I used a coat of quick dry topcoat between the cream and red and ontop of the red, making my nails super thickened and claw like. This is a photo from five minutes ago, I have worn this for two days working a busy museum till (I took nearly £4000 in cash and card payments) and as you can see, no visible wear. Bonus.

Eyes under the cut.

Simple work EOTD and Illamasqua Raindrops

Just a simple work look using Jealous Jordana eyeshadow and Cabana Boy blush from The Balm. The blue on my lid is Hi-Def Cyan pigment from MAC (another Cosmetic Company Outlet gift from my mum!) pressed over aqua blue HD cream liner from Kryolan. The pigment is very similar to the matte blue I got from Inglot (371) but as it's a pigment I feel it's more versatile (Cyan blue liquid-eyeliner using mixing medium will be a doddle with this, for example... no crusty eyeshadow pan!)
It stayed this intense all day.

My nails this weekend were Illamasqua Raindrops. The glass flecks were really pretty, but I had used a coat of Mavala grey I received free with Elle magazine this month (I subscribed for free Liz Earle cleanse and polish a couple of months ago) and I think that may have darkened the grey and obviously, as I used less coats of the sheer jelly Raindrops, lessened the glass flecks of glitter showing through.

Ruth x

Adventure Time Inspired Series - Engagement Ring Princess

That's right. Adventure Time. I haven't watched much Disney recently but my younger brother got me hooked on this show via youtube (as it shows on Cartoon Network which I've never had... I have never lived in a house with SkyTV or whatever else :\ ) This look is inspired by the Engagement Ring Princess. She's a background character in a few episodes. I thought her colours were pretty and also she has a ring on her head which is neat. She is the first but she won't be the last!

More photos and products used after the cut.

Last of the July 2011 EOTDs

These are my last few looks from July. Where has the first half of the year gone? Ah!
I thought I'd do a little end of the month round up with these as there's nothing too unusual about them, but I feel like they're worth posting. I was trying out my The Balm eyeshadows and Hot Mama blush and the gel liner as a base technique.

Products under the cut.

Barney EOTD

A Mini-review and Eye/Hair look.

The above is a book and an apology card from Helen at Pin-Up Parade. I ordered a top from the sale section (which was perfect and adorable) and this book... I was mistakenly sent the Retro Make-up Book by the same author. Ut-oh. I contacted Helen and very politely told her the situation. Not only was she completely apologetic and amazing, she sent this out the day I sent the wrong book back - I could have been lying! It was so trustworthy of her. So in all, from ordering, it took me two days to get the items, and two days to get the correct book. It was fabulous. Not only that, she refunded the £1.50 it had cost me to return it. I was truly pleased. More after the jump...

The Balm Haul / Brand Alley Review

 The Balm Hot Mama blush.

 The Balm Cabana Boy blush.

 Balm Shelter tinted moisturizer.

The Balm Shady Lady eyeshadows in Jealous Jordana (dark green), Luscious Lani (champagne) and Risque Renee (dark blue).