Style icon..

Since she appeared on The Hills quite some time ago, I have absolutely loved her style!  I'm talking about the one and only Lauren Conrad. Her style is so simple and chic with a bit of a casual twist unless she's going out on a night on the town.  Then you can expect her to go full out in a dress and heels and some black nail polish!

The simple eyeliner look she goes for really emphasises her eyes.  Turning them from a more round shape to a bit more of a elongated classy dainty shape.  Although her make-up is done so simply, it emphasises her features.  I've been trying to do this kind of eyeliner look for so long but can't seem to recreate it on my own eyes.  Perhaps it's because my eyes are a bit more round than hers?  Possibly...

Aside from Lauren's make-up, her hair always adds a sweet innocence that link perfectly with her make-up.  It's just as classy and dainty as her eyeliner.  Her hairstyle here doesn't look very complicated but I'm sure for myself, it is complicated!  I have never been able to master the french braid since my hair has for most of my life been shoulder length and layered through which makes it impossible to create such a style with no fly-aways.  Adding too much hairspray or any hair product to keep those loose unintentional strands of hair will only give the look of the braid a stiffer appearance.  Which is not how this look is supposed to go.  I shall have to wait till my hair gets longer and then get practicing.  Hopefully it won't take too long, right?

Lauren's hair here is something that I can attempt to create.
Here was my effort:

Not bad considering my hair was no where near long enough right? All I used was a curling wand and made sure I curled up to a point of where I wanted the curls to start and made sure my hair was curled away from my face.  This is quite a nice, simple, easy look to accomplish once you get passed the awkward ways of having to hold the wand.  At least for me it felt awkward.  

Not only am I a huge fan of Lauren's make-up and hair simplicity, I do love the way she dresses too. It's casual and chic at the same time.  She adds small details to her outfit that makes a dull outfit into something a whole lot more fashionable.  

Will touch on the kinds of fashion clothing styles I like another time.  

Who is your style icon and why?  

Until next time... xoxo N

Spring is finally here!!!

Oh how I've waited so long for thee... You are finally here with the biggest rays of sunshine. Time to get the sunglasses out and get a new look for spring make-up!

Here is my spring make-up look that I put together using the YSL Pure Chromatics eyeshadow palette in #19.  I will be thinking of some other spring looks so keep posted! I'm feeling pastels... What do you think?

Products used: 

Foundation: MAC studio fix powder foundation - NC30

Concealer: Kick ass concealer by Soap & Glory 

Shadow primer:  Too faced shadow insurance

Eyeshadow: YSL Pure chromatics - #19 (Can be used wet or dry) 

Eyeliner: No7 Stay precise liquid liner - brown/black

Brow highlight: MAC shadow - Orb

Bronzer:  YSL - highlighting powder for the complexion 

Blush:  MAC - Gingerly

Highlighter: MAC - Lightyear

Lipliner: Rimmel London, 1000 kisses - 050 Tiramisu 

Lipstick:  MAC - Hue

Enjoy the video! Be sure to subscribe, rate and comment as it does make me happy and don't forget to let me know of your channel or blog if you have one so I can check it out too.  I love finding new people who are a part of the beauty community.

Hope you all have an amazing day! 

Until next time... xoxo N 

Fellow YouTuber's

I wanted to blog today about people I love to watch on YouTube.  I've seen many channels, many persona's and many techniques in the "How To's" of putting on make-up and what looks they put together. Of course there are also those "Outfit of the day" videos too!  Very inspirational.

I was watching a video just before passing out at 3am by the lovely Evelina Barry, and I was blown - away!! Here's the video I'm talking about below:

I saw this and I was amazed!!! It's so unique to the type of "Outfit of the day" videos I've been used to seeing and producing myself.  Mine are very much place my camera somewhere awkwardly and hope for the best it doesn't fall and film what I'm wearing, or there's the good ol' iPhone upload.  But this video by Evelina was amazing! So creative it really opened my eyes.  My jaw was wide open and wide eyed in amazement! (I hope you've seen the video at this point.  If not, watch it!) She definitely got a thumbs up from me for this video! 

So there are some people on YouTube who I think are amazing people. I just wanted to mention them in this blog as they do deserve recognition.  More so than they already have! If you've not seen videos by the following people, go check them out and encourage them to make more videos!  

Stephanie

Ashley Nichole

Fiona

James

Bijou

Jess

Mary Erika

That's just a few people.. Go check out their channel and see their talent!

Now onto another person who I think is awesome, I've known her since she started out on YouTube, it is Tati (aka GlamLifeGuru).  She makes some awesome videos, from tutorials, to reviews, to hauls and giveaways! 1 of my favourite videos of hers are her Monday Madness videos! It's where she finds coupons and deals at her local drugstores and you get to see her little adventure to these stores, and sometimes it would be with her wearing an awesome SpiritHood hat!  (FYI: I've just seen there is a UK published site as well: SpiritHoodsUK) Here's a video of hers below if you've not seen 1 of her videos before: 

I had no idea which one to pick out of her many videos so I chose these two here! I have to admit I'm a bit 'biased' (however it is a very nice tutorial) of 'The Vow' tutorial as I gave her the Sleek palette she uses but it just shows how she gives some good tips & tricks about how she could put on her make-up.  Plus for us who are Uk bound, we can get a hold of the brand of palette she uses! ;] (Forward thinking!)

These are just a handful of people who I think are pretty amazing on YouTube and continue to put themselves out there in the internet world quite often!

You'd be amazed at who you find if you search deep enough into YouTube. I'm always up for checking out YouTuber's who are just starting out (like myself), so feel free to leave me a comment of people you watch, or your channel as well if you have one! I'd love to check it out.

Until next time... xoxo N

Once upon a time...

Ok, not so tomboyish dressed but you see the nature right? lol

"....a girl who was quite tomboy-ish came across YouTube videos that consisted of hauls, tutorials, tags and fun vlogs by the likes of Elle, Blair, Ingrid and Fleur.  Her interest in beauty/fashion and self confidence/self improvement stemmed from there and manifested into an obsession that many girls go through.  It becomes a hobby for some, and a career for others, certainly life changing all the same.  Thus resulting in her wanting to take part in the beauty community to share her tips and tricks, her great finds in hauls, and her outfits that she has put together to show others what work well together in her own style of casual elegance (Or just plain casual).  So she started to make videos of her own..."

For me, this is me a little more refined. Still casual but some style involved.

I'm that girl who makes videos on YouTube (Brunette Diaries) that are related to beauty and fashion (Let me just add, I'm no expert at all. It's all just good fun!). I was never the type of girl who was into make-up or dressing up.  When it comes to picking what to wear... Oh my... It can take quite some time now! I used to wear boyish cut jeans (not like the cute kind you can get now aka "Boyfriend jeans" or anything... Proper old styles that never flatter my figure, look up the 80s/90s fashion) and an unintentional oversized t-shirt. As for my beauty regime, it used to be; shower (wash my face in the process of course), put on moisturiser, concealer and mascara and that was it and I'd be out the door!  However, it has now become far more complex than I ever imagined.

This is how my beauty regime is (example: for work), I go have my shower first thing as that's important, we want to be clean always! (I brush my teeth during this time too.  Hygiene first ladies!)

Then my beauty regime is this:-

• Moisturise
• Face primer
• Foundation
• Concealer
• Bronzer
• Eye primer
• Eye make-up
• Eyebrows penciled in
• Eyeliner
• Mascara (sometimes)
• Blush
• Highlighter
• Setting spray and then I'm out the door (fully clothed of course).  

Look how much longer my beauty regime is?! YouTube has certainly made my mornings a whole lot longer. And when I say "YouTube" I mean the girls who make beauty related videos.  It's their fault... ;]  

Regardless of how long my regime is now it is fun to do once in a while.  That regime is for work of course.  When I'm not working, it's a bit shorter. 

For instance:-

• Moisturiser 
• Concealer
• Eyeliner 
• Eyebrows 
• Blush 

I will admit, I do look more put together 'face wise' when it has some structure. I'm not so multi-coloured of blemishes/spots when I go out the door.  

However it is important to look after your body and skin. The "foundation" to looking good is to be healthy as possible inside and out.  Make-up is just the fun part, it's replaced playing with good ol' Barbie dolls and her boyfriend Ken.  (It is still Ken right? Or has that ship sailed?) 

Anywho... So this is me, my rambles and who I am which you will see more and more through my blogs.  

I hope you enjoyed this blog! Please leave a comment down below on how watching 'YouTube' videos has changed your life.  No matter how big or small a difference. 

Until next time... xoxo N