DECEMBER EDIT: ALL THINGS BEAUTY & NETFLIX ALL THE WAY

I am back from wandering town trying not be pushed to the ground by sale crazed crowds. I managed to snatch a little something in the sales, how about you? Happy Boxing Day all! I thought today was a great day to talk to you about all the things that I loved through December and for once there's not 100s of items here. I haven't even gotten one skincare item as I've been using and loving all the bits I already included in my faves in the past months. So it's all about the way my nails and lips looked and how awesome I smelled in December LOL!

Let's start with the scent. This is my 3rd bottle of Victor & Rolf Flowerbomb and I couldn't be happier it's finally back in my life. It's such a lovely fragrance, sweet and heavy with muscly notes, very sexy. It has notes of Bergamot, Green Tea, Jasmine, Rose, Freesia, Orchid, Patchouli, Citrus and Musk, making it super sweet and seductive. It was first introduced back in 2005 and since became a cult perm by V&R house. The bottle design of diamond-granate already tells you what this scent will be: explosive & glamorous. And what a stunning design the bottle truly is, just like the fragrance it hosts. It is not the cheapest of scents starting with £50.00 for 30ml (currently on offer in Boots for £45.00), but if you like your heavy & sweet floral fragrances with notes of citrus, this is the one for you. 

I haven't been very active with makeup tutorials recently, but finally managed a few in December. You've seen my Christmas Glamour proposition (POST) and there's a New Years Eve one coming your way this Friday. Both feature the incredible lashes I've received in my Selfridges Beauty Workshop Advent Calendar. Eylure Enchanted Into Darkness are amazing when paired with a full on glam eyes. They're fuller on the outer corners making them more 'natural' and look stunning in images I took for the posts. I used them 3 times already and they look perfectly intact. Definite fave of the party month. 

I got the Jeffree Star Holiday Collection lipsticks when they launched on Beauty Bay and I adore them. Especially the two shown here. You can check out my thoughts on them and swatches in my POST HERE. I love Checkmate for being so vibrant and making my skin look amazing when wearing it. It's bright but understated at the same time. It has some orange tones to it but it'll suit most complexions due to complexity of the shade itself. Absolute stunner. And of course, let's not forget about Designer Blood, which hasn't left my lips for more than two days in a row this whole month. It is a stunning deep berry red. I tested it out for you on Snapchat and had so many compliments on how it looked. No wonder it's a gorgeous shade and the formula is actually brilliant. I had it on for 6+ hours, ate twice, drank lots, had a snack. Yes the wear was visible but nothing you can't fix with a little top up. It also felt really comfortable on the lips and after 6 hour wear that's something I'm not used to. Top marks from me!

I've been pairing my lips and nails this month with berry and reds being my favourite. I love the formula of OPI Nail Polishes. The Big Red Apple shade is just a stunning classic red, that adds chic to any look. Pair it with smokey eye or just an ear every day look. I've been pairing it with everything this month and it always looks good. Classic shades are good like that. I like how amazing the staying power is, with a good top coat (Essie Gel Couture - POST - is my favourite) it lasted a good 5 days without chipping. It would have probably lasted more if I wasn't so obsessed with changing my nails. The second shade of the month is a gorgeous Autograph All in One Nail Colour in Cranberry, that I found in my Marks and Spencer Beauty Advent Calendar. With the added benefits of Argan Oil and Vitamin E it is meant to be a base coat, colour and top coat in one. I haven't tried it on its own, as I never apply such dark shades without a base coat (Nails Inc Nail Kale is my go to lately - POST). What I found is that, yes it's quite long lasting, it doesn't chip and I love the metallic finish of it. It's a perfect match with my Jouer Lip Creme in Bronze Rose. In daylight it looks like deep berry metallic and in the artificial light it has some purple tones to it. Stunning shade. However drying time is something else and even my Essie top didn't really make a difference. You'll need a good half hour before it fully hardens. It's a big flow but the shade compensates it for me.

Good eyeshadow primer is a must for anyone with oily lids. Add hooded eyes to that equation and you find yourself on a look out for a perfect base. I love both MAC Painterly and Urban Decay Primer Potion but I now found a new primer worthy of my praise. Too Faced Shadow Insurance is a great primer. I could really just stop here, because what is there to say about an eyeshadow primer? The formula is quite oily and makes for an easy application. You only ever need a little too! It's easy to set, I've been using both eyeshadows and powder and both sets it nicely. I have had makeup on for 12 plus hours and it kept it intact. Definitely worth a purchase!

Lastly I could not forget about RCMA No Color Powder. It's been all over blogs and Youtube and when something is this hyped up, you're thinking, it can't be this good, right? Well it is and damn it because it's so hard to get your hands on! It's sold out everywhere and for a good reason. It's just brilliant. I worried it may not work with my dehydrated skin but it does, it really does miracles. It is a pure white powder, that doesn't change the colour of your foundation or casts a ghost like flashback in photos. It works for under eye baking and even fixed a staying power of my favourite foundation. I'm in love! It costs next to nothing and the only con I can think off is the packaging. You need a separate lid of a different powder to be able to apply this to a brush, but nothing is perfect and this powder comes pretty damn close. More about it HERE.

And finally what I really did the whole December - Netflix. I was so pleased to see a second season of Fuller House reaching Netflix and watched it all in a weekend. I loved Full House and love seeing my old favourites back on my screen. Yes it's silly but it reminds me of my childhood when I watched it with my Mom. My only wish it was more episodes as 13 per season on a sitcom is way too little to properly binge on! Sign up to Netflix HERE

Thank You For Reading,

Love

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CHRISTMAS DAY CLASSIC GLAM WITH A TWIST hooded eye tutorial

Merry Christmas everyone!!! I can't believe it'll be Christmas Day in only 9 days! How crazy is that? It's been a while since I posted a full on makeup tutorial and I can't wait to see what you guys think of this super easy golden smokey & glitter eye look. I paired it classically with a  red lip, because it had to be done. It's Christmas, I'll be wearing red, no discussion! Lol!!! 

Base & finish

Too Faced Hangover Primer

Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Make Up For Ever Full Cover

RCMA No Color Powder 

MAC contour duo

My Secret bronzer 

Too Faced Champagne Truffle from Nikkie's palette

Eyes & brows:

Too Faced Shadow Insurance Primer

Too Faced The Power Of Makeup by Nikkie Tutorials

Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Taupe

DIY Pressed Glitters

Eylure Enchanted Into Darkness falsies

Lips:

Make Up For Ever Lipstick in 

Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay Lip Liner in 714

Playtime:

I started this look from the eyes, as I knew I'll be using shadows that have tendency to fall out a bit and glitters. I primed my lids and under eye are with Too Faced Shadow Insurance and set it with matte off white Ivy from Nikkie's palette. Using Painkiller, I created a fake crease by blending the shade on the hood of my eyes, quite high up as I wanted to smoke out the look. I deepened the effect using Makeup & Chill in the (fake) crease and in the outer corners. I used tiny amount of matte black in Wanted on the very outer corners to smoke them out a little. Using a wet slanted brow brush, I applied Wanted as a liner on the upper lid to help with covering the falsies strip later. On the lid I applied a mixture of 3 gold & copper shades from Morphe 35F palette and applied them all over the lids. I used my finger to ensure great pigmentation. I then applied all pressed glitters on to the middle of the lid by pressing them with my finger. I made these DIY pressed glitters so wanted to see how they'll do in a play and they did beautifully. I applied each colour on top of each other to create this multicoloured glitter look. I did a little flick using Kat Von D Tattoo Liner and applied my falsies.

I used wipes to take off the fall out from shadows and glitter, and prepped my skin using Hangover Primer. I applied Armani Luminous Silk Foundation using a Beauty Blender and covered up my under eyes using MUFE Full Cover. I baked the under eyes using RCMA powder and also set my makeup with it. For my contour I used My Secret Bronzer, which is amazing for pale people contour needs and bronzed up my skin using MAC bronzer in ..... I added just the tiny amount of blush by mixing two shades from Nikkie's palette. I applied a generous amount of Champagne Truffle highlight to the tops of my cheekbones, tip of the nose and a cupid's bow. I've finished off the look with brows using ABH Dipbrow in Taupe.

Having cleaned up the baking from under eyes, I applied Eyes of Horus Eyeliner in Black to my waterline and smudged it out with Wanted from Nikkie's palette underneath the lower lash line. I blended it all out with a mixture of Painkiller and Makeup & Chill. I applied the mixture of first two highlight shades from Morphe palette to the inner corners and added a little of Inglot pigment in 75 for good measure.

For my lips I wanted a true red. I started with a liner by Urban Decay in 714 to line my lips and then filled them up with MUFE Lipstick in ... which is a stunning satin finish red that lasts for hours.

I hope you enjoy my finished look. If you're planning on re-creating iy, don't forget to tag me on Instagram or Twitter using #idorottka, or send me your snaps at my Snapchat account i.dorottka! What looks will you be sporting this Christmas Day?

Thank You For Reading,

Love

Dorota X

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CHRISTMAS PARTY EDIT - MUST HAVES YOU NEED RIGHT NOW + TIPS FOR LONG LASTING MAKEUP

Christmas Party season is on and if you are attending one or many (lucky you!), you are probably wondering what makeup to wear and if you're beauty bag is updated with all the in season bits and bobs. I compiled a list of my favourite products which will not only help you achieve the perfect look but also will stay on your face all night long. No need to thank me, really, just think of me trying to remove it all half drunk at 4am :)

Evening makeup plays by different rules to your fave daytime bits. It's stronger for a reason, the non natural lighting needs more definition. You'll also need products that stay on, despite the numerous proseccos you'll be enjoying and all the dance moves you practiced. It needs to be long lasting and sweat proof! When it comes to base, prep is key. Make sure you exfoliate a day before and don't skip on moisturising. Make sure to tone your skin before hand and apply your fave moisturiser. Let it sink in before applying the primer. 

Base.

Primer is a must. Use one that's proven on your skin. I absolutely adore Too Faced Hangover Primer. It's great on all skin tones, maybe minus oily. It's also water based which makes it great for dry and dehydrated skin. It does prolong the life of your base makeup but also gives you an extra level of hydration, ensuring your foundation will not cake up during the night.

Give your primer a time to sink in, I allow around 2-3 minutes before starting with foundation. Again this is a game of what you like and what works on your skin. I find Armani Luminuous Silk Foundation to work on most skin types. It gives an amazing coverage without losing the luminosity. I love the glowing effect and this foundation gives me just that. It's truly long lasting too and will work on most, just ensure you use a primer that's right for you. I apply it with the Beauty Blender which ensures smooth and even coverage, plus gives me such flawless finish! This foundation comes with no SPF making it a perfect evening choice as it won't whiten your skin in flash photography! Bonus! Apply your favourite concealer, I recommend Make Up For Ever Full Cover. Nothing will give you better coverage and it's also waterproof so it'll last all night long. Make sure this is set pretty quickly with the powder, which brings me to my next fave...

To ensure your base stays put all night long, you'll need a good powder and what's better than the latest beauty craze that is RCMA No-Color Powder. This powder has been praised by all the beauty bloggers and it seems to be working on all skin types. It is not a translucent powder, it has no color whatsoever. It's great at setting up makeup and gives flawless semi matte finish. It's so finely milled, it's a true pleasure to work with. Unfortunately it is a little dusty, so I recommend doing your makeup before you squeeze in your LBD! Added bonus is that it gives no flashback which is a must in the evening makeup.

Contour & strobe.

Contouring and highlighting is a must if you'd like your face to look flawless with cheeks cut to kill :)  I'm super pale so I always look for a cool toned contour bronzer and NYX Ultra HD Blush in Taupe is perfect for that. It's a little dusty, again but super pigmented and easy to blend. I can't praise it enough, it's been a firm fave of mine forever. I apply it under my cheekbones, to contour my nose and forehead.

On a night out I always skip on blushers. There's no point really, flash photography will 'eat up' the colour and there's no point in adding more products to the routine. I am however super pale, so adding a little colour to my complexion is a must. I achieve that with super light warm toned bronzer like Golden Rose Mineral Terracotta Powder in 04. This is a recent fave of mine and I've been loving it lately! I apply it to the tops of my contour and across the temples and forehead for a touch of sunshine :)

Highlighting is a must, at least for me and on events, I love to shine, not only with my personality (LOL). My firm fave in that department is MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder in Soft & Gentle. This is the one highlight, I always go back to. It stays put for hours and you can truly achieve that wow effect. Just apply it with a dense brush and you're ready for a party!!!

Eyes & Brows.

It's been nearly 6 months and I'm still in love with Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance palette. It has absolutely everything you need to create on trend warm toned smokey/halo eye. The mattes are gorgeous and blendable and highlight shades are to die for. Can't get enough and can't imagine a Xmas Party makeup without it. These shadows are not only a real pleasure to work with but also stay on forever if applied over a good eye primer. I always go for either MAC Paint Pot in Painterly or Urban Decay Original Primer Potion.

To add that extra sparkle to your look, go for an Inglot AMC Pure Pigment in 115. This shade is simply stunning, add it on the mid lid or for inner corner highlight! Gorgeous! I am a collector of Inglot pigments so have a few shades to play with, but always go back to this one as it's not only super pretty and sparkly but also suits any eye look.

I'm not normally the one for a black liner but an occasion like this deserves a set of falsies and it's just looks better with a flick. Make sure you use a technique for your eye. I have hooded eyes so cat flick is a no-go, but I use the liner to darken my eyelashes line and make sure it hides the falsies strap. I really Love Kat Von D Tattoo Liner, as I find it's super long lasting but also super easy to create the lines with. Definitely one for beginners and pros alike!

This mascara has overtaken my life recently and I actually hated it when I first got it. I got an Illamasqua Masquara Gain as part of a goody bag on Selfridges Beauty Hall Event and was excited to try it. This is a mascara you should open twice and just leave laying around for a month as it's absolutely useless when first opened. Now however!!! If you love a false lash effect - this is the one for you. It curls, lengthens and gives you an insane volume. It's a bit more tricky to apply to avoid clumping, but it's so worth it!!!!

You can leave it with mascara, but event like this requires falsies. I got this amazing pair in my Selfridges Beauty Workshop Advent Calendar and I love it. Eylure Enchanted Into Darkness will give you an amazing length and volume and quite a natural (I know I know!) finish. Simply stunning.

Eye makeup is not complete until you fill in your brows. Please don't skip this step, as it truly gives your face the definition. And after spending 30 plus minutes on the rest of the makeup, why skip those 2-3 minutes to the absolute perfection? For big events I choose Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow in taupe. It's a perfect shade for me and will suit any blondes from light to dark. It's waterproof and smudge proof and will last all night long.

Lips.

I will be a total bore and go for a red lip. Why? Because it's Christmas!!! I find that matte lips last longer but also don't look as great as full glossy lip in the picture. So I am recommending a glossy finish... I know, it shocked me too! Any red lip requires a great prep. Pimp your lips with some scrub and moisturise prior to starting with your makeup routine! This will allow the moisture to be retained by your lips and product to fully sink in. Always start with lip liner. First, give yourself a little boost without painful injections by slightly over-lining your lips (I said Slightly you Kylie lookalikes!!). I adore Gwen Stefani for Urban Decay Lip Liner in 714. Its creamy and a little sticky which makes for the perfect primer for your glossy finish lipstick. Make sure you fill your lips too before applying lipstick. Lipstick I went for is Milani Lip Intense Liquid Colour in 01 Red Extreme. It's such a stunning red, your lips appear fuller and the shade makes your teeth appear whiter! Bonus!!!

Ok, so you're ready to do your hair and get your hot bod in that pretty dress you bought especially for the occasion. With the cheeks like that and full lips all you need now is a full time photographer to follow you around :) Have fun & enjoy yourself (responsibly!!!). Make sure your phone is charged for all those selfies and to book that Uber ride early in the morning!!! <3

Thank You For Reading,

Love

Dorota X

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WORTH THE HYPE? 5 MAKEUP FAVES I'D LOVE TO HATE

There's always a lot of hype around new makeup releases. Some are totally over hyped and some have overtaken my routine. 

MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle RPR £24.00

The most talked about highlighter from MAC totally deserves all the hype. I love to glow and I love a lot of highlighters, but it seems I always go back to Soft & Gentle. It's described as gilded peach bronze but I really don't see it as peach bronze but more of a beautiful champagne. It works for so many skin tones from the palest to the medium and I'm sure it could add dimension to even the deepest of them all. It's one of those finishes which work for both daytime and evening glam depending on a brush used and an application. Use a fan brush for a minimal daytime glow and denser brush like Sigma F35 (Tapered Highlighter Brush) for the wow effect that I tend to prefer. 

Make Up For Ever Full Cover Extreme Camouflage Cream RPR £21.00

The concealer that has a beauty world divided. Some love and some hate it. I belong in the love category. Borderline obsessive category to be more precise. I wanted to hate the concealer that costs so much, but it's honestly the best thing that's ever happened to my under eye circles. You only ever need a little to get the highest coverage possible. I always correct the shade first with either Bobbi Brown or NYX Corrector and then add just the tiniest amount of the Full Cover to conceal everything and anything. Some worry that formula is too high coverage for ever day wear, but I find that with great skincare it doesn't affect my under eyes. 

Becca Backlight Priming Filter RPR £32.00

This came recommended by many and I completely understand. It has fixed so many of my problematic foundations like Chanel Les Beiges, which I now adore. The formula is water based and works well for dry skin types. It gives the most incredible radiant finish to my complexion and makes the foundation just sit flawlessly on top. It certainly lives up to all the hype it gets.

RCMA No-Color Powder RPR £10.50 (currently out of stock)

Again this powder has taken the beauty world by storm and is my newest addition to an ever growing powder collection. I may not be able to confirm its all claims but it's truly excellent setting powder. It sets makeup in place without giving it the 'powder' finish. It's not as natural as Hourglass but it's also so much better at keeping foundation in place, especially ones that tend to move around after few hours. I love using it for baking as well, as it doesn't look dry under eyes. I find its a great all rounder and most importantly it won't break the bank. The hardest part is getting your hands on it. it's now available on Beauty Bay so keep on checking for availability.

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in Pillowtalk £16.00

Most famous nude lip liner thanks to our obsession in over lining our lips for that fuller effect. I must admit, it took me a while to even consider spending so much money on a lip liner and I now regret the time I was without it. It's perfect for those morning where I literally have zero time to do anything with my lips and can't leave them bare. The formula is creamy but comfortable and staying power very decent. I really love over lining my lips with it as the shade is just perfect for it, subtle yet visible enough. Yes, there are definite duper on the market but there's only one Pillowtalk :)

I hope you enjoyed this quick post. Let me know what products you'd be most excited to try! 

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Thank You For Reading,

Love