Line Up, Line Up

I love a good lick of eyeliner. Sadly for me, I was not blessed with the ridiculously full lashes that some ladies are lucky enough to possess. As such, a little bit of extra definition never goes amiss. There are a few in my arsenal that I go back to time and time again to add a hit of definition with minimal effort.

I don't opt for a classic kitten flick that often - having slightly hooded eyes means that it's not the most flattering look for me - but when I do, I prefer gel eyeliner. On the go at the moment is B. Defined in the shade Black. It's not the best formula, as it takes a couple of layers to reach the desired intensity, but it's not bad either. The lasting power is great and it came with a rather good brush too, if memory serves.

If I'm looking for something a little bit softer, or to smoke out a cream eyeshadow look, I have two options up my sleeve. The first is Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Eyeliner in the shade Black Gold. This has a really smudge-y formula, which means that it's absolutely perfect for adding drama, but isn't so great as a traditional eyeliner. It's still one of my most-used products, however, and I wouldn't want to be without it. When I don't fancy the gold-flecked intensity of that particular eyeliner, I tend to go for a warm, golden toned kohl. Currently in my stash is a now-discontinued little nub of one from 17, which is awesome... But not much use for anyone but me. Saying this, Smashbox have some lovely-looking offerings, as do Sephora, so they may be worth checking out if this sounds up your street.

On minimal makeup days, I take a small amount of the Laura Mercier Crème Eyeliner in the shade Violet and run it under my top lash line. This vivid purple isn't the most pigmented and doesn't look like much in the packaging, but can easily be built up to held define the eyes. What's more, the purple pops against my green eyes, to add a little somethin' somethin' to my otherwise plain makeup.

What are your favourite eyeliners, and what do you think is the best way to wear them?

The Eyes Have It...

I'm a big fan of 'letting my eyes do all the talking'. A nicely blended neutral eye with lashings of mascara just does it for me. These products lend themselves to a shimmery, nectar toned wash of colour with some punchy definition from the mascara, making them great for when you just have to pop out for a cheeky drink after work...

I accidentally ended up purchasing the new No. 7 Stay Prefect Shade and Define eyeshadow pen. I genuinely popped into Boots to grab some mouthwash and a diet coke (yes, I'm well aware of the irony of that statement), and left with this also in my shopping bag, thanks to a £3 off voucher. I have the shade Pink Pearl and it just beautiful. It's quite sheer, but adds a beautiful iridescence, sparkle and glow to the eyelid, making it great for slapping on alone or using as a base to bring out the best of other eye products. Oh, and it also happens to be probably the best long-lasting cream eye product I've ever tried. Nothing lasts like this does. Nothing. It's love.

Next, I take the pink toned shade from the 17 Eyeshadow Trio in the shade Enraged all over the lid. This colour is great for brightening and quite frankly, it's just beautiful. I the follow this with the golden tone under my lower lash line, to add a smidgen of definition and balance, then add the chocolatey shade to add depth... Then I get blending like nobody's business. Considering how cheap these products are, they are incredibly pigmented and blendable, so this isn't particularly difficult.

Once all of this is said and done, I like to go in with a coat (or three) or a good black mascara on well-curled lashes (my curlers are Tweezerman for Benefit, and whilst they're nothing to write home about perhaps, they are pretty darn good). My pick for this would be the eye-wateringly expensive YSL Beauty Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara. This stuff is, in a word, potent. It's my go-to night out mascara and I can find it to be a little bit too much for the daytime, but it really depends on your taste. Either way, a little goes a long way and this stuff is da' bomb.

Looking for a casual springtime eye? I think you just found it...

Sophie Makes Up for (Sort of) Lazy Days

I'm a big fan of lazy days. Seriously. Knowing that there's nothing that needs doing urgently and that you can make the day what you want it to be is a pretty darn satisfying feeling. But let's face it, such days are few and far between, but that doesn't mean we can't pretend with makeup... I'm a big believer in the idea that our external appearance reflects the way we feel inside, so using makeup to create a serene, chilled out and ready-for-anything version of yourself seems to me to be a bit of a good idea.

The look I'm going for is a slightly more polished version of that old classic, 'no makeup makeup'. Seeing as your day could be going in any direction, you want to make sure you're looking up for it, of course... But you can't really be bothered to make too much of an effort. FYI this is pretty much my rule of thumb for err... everything.

First things first, a nice and light foundation. On days like this I opt for the Bobbi Brown Moisture Rich Foundation SPF 15. To me, this comes somewhere in between a tinted moisturiser and a foundation. It's more buildable than the former, but feels lighter than the latter. It's not my favourite base - it's a little bit too dewy, actually - but it does the job on days like these. Top up with concealer as and where you need it.

As for the eyes, I'd recommend a quick bit of definition through the socket and a nicely defined, but not overdone, brow. After watching this Lisa Eldridge video (all hail Lisa), I tried a little bit of Snakebite from the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette through my crease and y'know what, it looked pretty good. Follow with a good layer of mascara or two, I like Lancôme Hypnôse Mascara worked into the lashes for this, and you're good to go.

For a bit of a flush, you can't beat a bit of bronzer in my books. I'm currently hooked on the bronzing veil from the Laura Mercier Bonne Mine Palette due to its easy-peasy cream consistency, but use whichever takes your fancy. Anything that gives you a slightly sunkissed warmth without looking too 'try-hard' will do the trick.

And lastly, the lips. I'd always recommend your go-to lip product. You don't want to be wearing anything too high-maintenance, but you want to feel like the best version of yourself. If this means a lick of lipbalm, go for it. If it means a bright red, splash it on. For me, it's the YSL Beauty Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in the shade 6 Bergmasque, a peachy pink MLBB colour.

After this, the day is yours to make of it what you will. Whatever that means...

They See Me Haulin'...

Every now and then, I believe that it is absolutely essential to take one day out of your week and dedicate it to going for a good ol' fashioned shop with one of your girlfriends. And that is exactly how I spent my Monday. We went cruising through the aisles of our local Boots, Superdrug and err... Waitrose on a mission. The damage? Not too bad, all things considered. Here's the round up of what I grabbed.

Seventeen Stay Time Concealer - I picked this up on a whim as a replacement for my Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer, which has sadly come to an end, and d'you know what? It's actually pretty good. It's a liquid formula somewhat reminiscent of the infamous Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer, but much less cakey and a much better colour. I've only used this once so far so I can't speak for it's 'up to 18 hour' claim, but I am really impressed with the texture.

Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Heavy Duty Under Eye Concealer - Can you tell I'm on the search for a good concealer? Boots currently have their 3-for-2 offer on, so I also picked up this little pot of goodness for my under eye area. It's a very creamy formula, somewhat reminiscent of the Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer/Corrector, with a salmony hue to counteract darkness. I've tried the Corrector before and was a big fan of it, but the colour was off for me, so I know I'll get on with this quite well. It needs setting, or it will crease from what I have experienced so far... But, dare I say it, I think we're onto a winner.

Seventeen Eyeshadow Trio in the shade Enraged - I know, I know. More eyeshadow. Again. But trust me, this is a good'un. I've owned this before and absolutely loved it, but it smashed. It's an A Model Recommends enabled purchase and it's just really darn pretty. A very shimmery selection of a peachy pink, a golden champagne and a chocolate bronze. All the shimmaaaah.

B. B Enegergised Eye Cream - I grabbed this in a bid to replace my Eysilix Instant Eye Rescue and it's actually quite nice. Puffiness is my biggest issue, especially around that time of the month, and this promises to tackle this with some pretty convincing ingredients to back it up. I'll report back on this one...

Rimmel London Salon Pro Nail Laquer in the shade 115 Happily Evie After - The only way I can accurately describe this colour is to say that it looks like a Sex on the Beach cocktail when it's all been mixed together. Apologies. It's a pinky orangey red that rocks. It's currently residing on my toes and I bloomin' love it. It's a formula I've used before and it's a firm favourite. Summer in a bottle.

L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Nail Laquer in the shade Pistachio Drage - Pistachio ice cream in a bottle. It's a very pretty light green that I shall be rocking throughout this spring at a bargain-alicious price.