FESTIVE FEELINGS

Scarf - Boohoo, Crop Top - ASOS, Skirt - c/o Nobody's Child, Boots - c/o Public Desire

Just a quick outfit post from me today, mainly because I just wanted to wish you all a very merry Christmas! This is just my Christmas Eve outfit... For once, I'm blogging about what I wore on the day I wore it. I was supposed to be working today, but our lovely bosses let us have the day off. Instead, I've had the chance to tag along for all things festive with the family. I've had such a lovely lead up to the holidays this year, so I hope you're all feeling as Christmassy as I am... Some years I can feel like a bit of a Scrooge, but this time round I'm feeling like Buddy the Elf. SANTA IS COMING. 

On the outfit front, I did originally go for something way more festive... If you follow me on Snapchat (username - fashioninflux) you'll have seen my cream co-ord that felt a little bit Mrs Claus. Unfortunately, torrential downpours made me wimp out of wearing it. Instead I opted for this all black combo - I don't know why black just feels more practical. In reality, trudging around Bakewell in these boots still wasn't a great idea! I managed, although walking boots would have probably been more appropriate. 

Right. Time to get the real festive feels going on. This evening we're heading up into the village for Santa's annual stop off in the village... It's mainly for the kids but I'm using 'it's festive' as an excuse to head up with my ma. So, have an uhhhmazing Christmas everyone, I hope it's filled with love, laughter & a sickening amount of turkey sandwiches. 

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MATCHING GREY & THAT CAMEL COAT

Sunglasses - C�line Coat - Primark, Jumper - Primark, Trousers - Primark, Trainers - adidas Superstar

I say 'that' camel coat 'cause it's becoming quite the regular in blog posts. As much as I love buying clothes, it's admittedly a bit pointless seen as I mostly just wear around 10 favourite items on a rotate. Lol. Currently, this Primark number is my go to when I�m dashing about. To say it�s only a cheapo version it still does a good job at keeping me cosy! I�m still on a hunt for the grey version� It could be that it's in fact a mythical Primark beast, but I did hear that it exists.

Without intention, this outfit is all Primark. I don�t even buy much from there anymore (I usually can�t face tackling the queues), but I still have some good basics lurking in my wardrobe. The little tutle neck jumpers I always find to be good value, and the trousers I grabbed in the sale last year. They�re really soft, perfect for the chillier days. My only problem at the minute is that the weather is ruining my freaking life when it comes to wearing anything other than skinny legged trousers � how am I meant to rock my flares when they�re trailing behind me sopping wet through?! For the foreseeable future I'm not bothering to buy anything wide legged� I saw a dreamy pair of maroon trousers in ZARA the other day but I just knew they�d get trashed in the rain. Sob. I know, another level of 'First World problems' has been reached. 

I�m heading off now as we�re about to go for a drive round our favourite OTT (and totally fabulous) Christmas lights. It�s Christmas Eve Eve Eve (?!) after all! 

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CHRISTMAS MAKEUP | LINER, RED LIPS & SHIMMER

How it's only 5 days to Christmas I do not know, but with all things festive underway I thought I ought to do some Christmassy makeup. I love that December is a time to be way more glamorous than usual - I'd never normally wear a lip like this but I actually really like it! Red scares me a bit... It's a whole world away from my typical nude. 

Along with the red lippy I went for some liquid liner and a bit of shimmer - I think that's probably your typical sort of festive look, but you can't beat a good classic. I just went for plenty of highlighter & a little bit of glitter on my eyes, but you can always up the ante on the glitter! All the products are linked in the video... A lot of them are new makeup additions I've picked up specifically for the festivities, so if you're after some Christmas cosmetics then it may be worth checking out. Time for me to go watch the rest of Home Alone... Hope you're all feeling in the holiday spirit! 

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5 MAKEUP BRUSHES YOU NEED

I see a lot of fancy pants makeup brushes out there and I'm just like 'I have no idea what the fudge I'm meant to use this for'. Admittedly, I have got a plethora of brushes, but when it comes down to it a lot of them are similar versions of the same thing. With that, I wanted to talk the brushes you actually need in your life. Scrap the various varieties of the 21whatsits, if I really had to narrow it down to 5, and still manage my to put on makeup without looking like a 4 year old had had a go, these would be the ones I'd go for. 

Blending Brush (Crown Brush C33 Blending Crease)

I feel like I've probably spent far too much of my life blending out freaking eyeshadow. Meh. Blend until you can blend no more right?! The blending brush is pretty much my ultimate. Whether it's just a bit of shadow for a daytime look or the whole shebang with a smokey eye Kimmy K would be proud of, it's something I use every day. I always think it's always worth investing in a few blending brushes - I use them so much I find it's easier in between washes to have one for lighter shadows, darker tones and shimmery finishes. 

Fluffy Brush (Real Techniques Blush Brush)

Everyone needs a blush brush in their life I reckon. I don't even really wear blush, but I still use this all the time, especially now we're meant to work out how to contour our faces within an inch of our lives - I always need something for blending things out when I've gone a bit over the top! This one from Real Techniques isn't overly expensive & has lasted me well without shedding.

Flat Brush (MAC 252)

I didn't actually ever have this one on my 'brush wishlist', but I'm so glad the MAC lady swayed me into it. It's such a good multi-use option. I think it's probably designed for concealer, but I use it for way more than just that - foundation, contouring, neatening up my brows, applying primer, the lot. Definitely a good all-rounder for base makeup. 

Tapered Brush (Sigma F37 Spotlight Diffuser)
This Sigma one is a newbie to my collection, but it's replaced an older version that was way past it's best. Out of all 5 this is the one that I'd say is less of a necessity, but to me it's still a brush that does what others don't. I mean, how am I meant to set my under eye concealer without it?! It's just a great shape for the awkward areas, as well as being a goodie for highlighter & a bit of contouring. 

Buffing Brush (Real Techinques Buffing Brush - Core Collection Kit)

One of my favourite brushes from Real Techniques. When I use a brush for foundation, this is always my go to... I just feel like it requires minimum effort to smudge out any streaky bits & patchy areas. I've had this one ages, but when it finally dies a death I'll be straight out to get another.

So there we have it... The ones I'd go for if I was starting a brush collection. If I added on from this I'd go for a brow brush next (I use pencil a lot and sharpen things up with the flat brush, so I don't always see it as an immediate essential) and then a beauty blender as a brush alternative.  What makeup brushes are your favourites?

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MAKEUP... WITH AN APP

There�s nothing worse than getting that dreamy looking lipstick home to try it on and realize it actually makes you look like death warmed up. The same goes when you copy that fabulous YouTube tutorial before deciding purple ombre lips with a smokey eye just aint your thing. Gone are the days, thanks to the L�Oreal Paris Makeup Genius App I�ve been trying out over the last few weeks� If you�re a lover of all things makeup, it�s one to head over and download!

Basically, the app scans in your face using your phone camera for some virtual reality goodness, meaning you can try out L�Oreal Paris� products all in the app itself, as they�d look on your face. Your real life face. There and then. As it moves and stuff. Isn�t that a cool idea?! I love that technology means I can now sit in my pyjamas with no makeup on and still take a selfie. What a world. There�s a whole range of makeup looks to flick through, as well as individual products to put to the test... It�s a really handy way to try something out before you buy.

The look I went for was the one Naomi Watts wore for the 2015 Oscars � something quite glam yet still pretty simple. I love the slick eyeliner with the mauve lip. Admittedly though, liquid liner is not my thing. I always struggle and end up having to go over each eye until I end up with something more panda inspired, rather than feline and flirty. The app actually helped me out loads with this. Being able to see where my flick should be �flicking� showed me where to draw my own. I used the L�Oreal Paris Super Liner Perfect Slim, perfect for getting that precise edge, before smudging it out slightly along my lash line just to make my look a little more casual � my day wasn�t going to be quite as fabulous as heading to the Oscars!

I kept my skin pretty simple with a light flush of blush to warm things up, before adding in my lippy � L�Oreal Paris Color Riche in the shade 703 Gold Obsession. I�m obsessed with this colour � a really wearable darker lip. I love the finish with this one, plenty of colour without drying out the lips.

The app is a really cool way to give makeup a go & I know I�m going to spend so much longer faffing around with it� I�ve even had my mum getting glammed up without having to tear her away from the soaps! It�s a big hit with both of us.  

Have any of you guys given it a go? You can download it here. Let me know how you get on if you try it out!
* This is a sponsored post, all views are my own.

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