How To | Blonde Highlights at Home

Do you ever get tired of paying the price to have a bit of dye put into your hair. I think highlights have got to be one of the most annoying factors of having slightly darker hair than you would like. My hair has darkened over the years, mainly because I dyed my hair from a very light blonde to the darkest brown there is. Although I have not dyed my hair for quite some time and recently I have had an urge to do something with it. I get very bored very easily, I like to change up my look. The thought of brown had crossed my mind or I would definitely like to try pink but for my profession its probably not wise. I made the decision to lighten my hair but instead of going to a salon which yes sounds like a more easier option, I wanted to test if I could dye my hair at home myself. I have dyed my hair so many times with a box dye, however they are a block colour and I wanted a bit more texture in my hair. I have a golden caramel colour going on at the moment and wanted to lighten my hair but keep them caramel tones. 

There are two ways to do highlights at home, use foils or a hair cap. I think a hair cap would be the easiest option as you just put the cap on and pull pieces of hair through the holes in the cap; and then you just apply the dye on to the cap. Sounds pretty easy right. Although I had one problem, I didn't have a cap and couldn't find one anywhere. I think they only sell them in professional beauty stores like Sally's. However I did have foil, who doesn't in their kitchen. This is something I have never tried before, but how hard could it be. I am the type of person to try different things and with a box dye it seemed very self explanatory. So I had everything I needed to highlight my hair, majority of the tools are easily found somewhere in your house. The only thing you need is your dye, I choose a box dye kit as they are super easy to use and everything is done for you. All you have to do is mix the solution and your good to go.

You will need

A Box Hair Dye 

Foil

Scissors

A Comb

A Hair Clip

A Towel 

Face Wipes

Shampoo/Conditioner

Please checkout the video tutorial now live on my Youtube Channel for an in-depth look into how I brightened up my hair for under £10, better than your average salon price of £30-£100. If you like this tutorial and my other videos please rate and subscribe and leave any comments below. I would love to hear your thoughts.

If you follow this tutorial and use this method for your own hair then please tweet me @katyharmston or Instagram me with the ♯styleenhance. 

Love

Purple Winged Eyeliner

On a working day basis I tend to stick to my normal eye routine that consists of mascara and maybe a bit of eyeliner, but some days I do love a bit of colour. This purple winged eyeliner look is perfect to draw attention to your eyes, however not too drastic that you look like your trying too hard. 

It is a very quick and easy look, so applying it early in the morning isn't a trying process.

For a softer look I brushed a soft pink along the crease line and smoked it out. This is not a smokey eye so no need to add too much colour. 

To make those lashers look longer and thicker apply a black eyeliner to the top waterline and plenty of mascara to the top and bottom eyelashes.

Products used

MUA Single Eyeshadow - Shade Pearl 

Beauty Q Angled Brush

Technic Electric Palette - Shade Light Pink 

Rimmel Eyeliner Pencil - Shade Black

BG Beauty Mascara - Shade Black 

You can use a purple liquid eyeliner, however most people have a range of different coloured eyeshadows than liquid liners. This technique is making use of the makeup you already have and personally I prefer using an Angled Brush.

Iet me know what you prefer. 

Love

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Cara Delevingne Inspired Makeup Look

I am a huge fan of Cara Delevingne, she is one of my favourite models and has such striking features. I was inspired by a campaign photo she uploaded to her Facebook Page. Cara looks beautiful as always but it was the makeup look that caught my eye, it's very striking with a gold eye, a bright lip and light contouring. 

It is a very pretty look, perfect for a night out or even worn on a daily basis. The golden smokey eye gives this look a defined edge but the bright pink lip then tones it down and adds a sense of prettiness and colour.

Products used:

Nivea Soft Moisturiser

Rimmel 25 Hour Foundation - Shade 100 Ivory

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - Shade Fair

Collection Sheer Loose Powder - Shade 2 Translucent

Rimmel Sun Shimmer Bronzer - Shade Light Shimmer 

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil - Shade Hazel

Technic Electric Palette - Light Gold, Yellow & Copper Gold

Elizabeth Arden Palette - Shade Brown

Rimmel Professional Eyebrow Pencil - Shade Hazel

MUA Cover and Conceal Concealer - Shade Light

BC Body Collection Maxi Length Mascara - Shade Black

Rimmel Eyeliner - Shade Black

Rimmel Eyeliner - Shade White

MUA Blusher - Shade Marsh-Mellow

No7 Highlights Illuminating Powder - Shade Starlights

Eye-lure Eyelashes - Natural

Technic Juicy Stick - Neon Pink

MUA Lip Liner - Brooding Plum

Tools used:

Real Techniques Correction Sponge

Powder Pad

Real Techniques Contour Brush

Real Techniques Detail Brush

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Beauty Q 

Beauty Q Blend Brush

Small Foundation Brush

I hope you like this look and make sure you checkout the Video Tutorial below to let me know what you think. 

Love

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Product Review: Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara

I have been looking for a good mascara for some time, I picked up this Rimmel Extra Super Lash Mascara after pondering in super drug for while, I had ran out that morning so it was crunch time. I am not a fan of mascaras with big brushes as mascara gets everywhere and they do not define your lashes. 

After speaking with the Sales Advisor for some time, she informed me that these Rimmel Mascaras are very popular. I have always had a huge crush when it comes to Rimmel products, but it was a difficult choice to make as these mascaras are wrapped in a plastic film with no tester. When it comes to mascaras I love to have a look at one before I buy it so I can see what the brush is like and how good the product is. Unfortunately I couldn't do that with this mascara but I decided to give it ago anyway as the Sales Advisor sung it praises and I have a lot of trust in Rimmel products.

I hate to say it but my trust has been shaken, this is probably one of my most hated mascaras I have every purchased. It retails at £4.99 which is not a lot for a mascara, but if the product is unusable then purchasing something at a penny is waste of money. It is not the price of this product is, its the quality.

As a Rimmel product it comes in a nicely designed and easy to use casing which isn't a surprise, however when you open the mascara there is no suction to the opening of the mascara, leaving the brush is full of product. The opening is the same size as the rest of the tube so when your apply your mascara it clumps up your lashes terribly because there is too much product on the brush. 

I would not advise anyone to purchase this product if they are looking for a new mascara, however I do have a love for Rimmel products and that has not changed. 

I am still on the look out for good mascara so leave your favourites below.

Love

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Top 5 Bold Lipsticks

I am constantly in love with colour, a bold lipstick can brighten up an everyday look and define the face. If you don't like to pile on the eyeshadow but want something to define your features and contrast against your complexion then lipstick is perfect!

Two Technic Juicy Sticks - Shade Neon & Raspberry

NYC City Proof Crayon - Shade 031 Gramercy Park Plum

Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick - Shade 085 Royalty

MUA Lipstick - Shade 13 

These lipsticks are all high street brands and are very pigmented. They are all priced under £6.00, so perfect bargain buys for you budget hunters.

I have a serious addiction with the brand Rimmel so my favourite lipstick has to be the Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick. I love the colour, that it's long lasting and moisturises your lips. 

I hope you enjoyed this post and

make sure you leave your favourites below!

Love

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What's In My Bag Video

I have watched so many 'What's in my Bag' videos and realised I hadn't made my own, so that is this weeks video. It's rediculous the amount of stuff I find in the bottom of my bag at the end of the week. 

Checkout the video below to see what sort of stuff I carry around on a daily basis. 

Love

Clean & Clear

My foundation routine is constantly changing but I think I'm really quite happy with the way my skin looks now. I am a big believer that if your skin looks flawless then the rest of your makeup will fall into place. On an average day my makeup routine is pretty simple, I don't do smokey eyes everyday, in fact I don't actually wear eyeshadow a lot. I like the basics, it's easy and looks effortless.

Moisturise and Prime 

Foundation 

Conceal

Powder & Blush & Highlight

Mascara & Eyebrows

Lip Stick/Final look 

Products used: 

Nivea Soft Moisturiser 

MUA Pro-Base Primer

Rimmel 25 Hour Foundation - Shade Ivory

Collection Sheer Loose Powder - Shade 2 Translucent

No 7 Stay Perfect - Shade Bloom

No 7 Highlights - Shade Star Light

Nivea Lash Elastic Mascara -  Black

Technic Eyebrow Kit

Rimmel Lipstick - Shade 006 Pink Blush

This is a very soft look, perfect for everyday especially as it's been sunny a lot recently. This routine is my go to makeup at the moment as it's easy and simple but elegant and stylish. You can add to it or leave it as it is, the options are endless! 

I hope you have had a great day!

Love

No Makeup Look

Recently my skin doesn't really know what it’s doing... I used this new exfoliating sponge the other day and since that my skin just seems to have gone crazy. The sponge was not branded or any kind of fancy sponge, just the normal exfoliating clothes you can buy at most beauty stores. I did find the one I used to be quite coarse so I am not too sure whether that is the reason my skin seems to be out of control. It’s nothing drastic, just a lot of redness and small under the skin bumps that make your face look like a desert! Not a good look eh ladies? So my conclusion is that this sponge may have damaged the top layer of my skin more than anything.  Due to my skin being recently irritated I have opted for a more natural look that will not cause my skin to get worse.

The ‘No Makeup Look’ is perfect for everyday if you don’t like to wear a lot of makeup or if you’re trying to put less product on your face. It is the right time for a light flawless finish due to the summer heat. I am a firm believer that as long as you have great looking skin all your makeup will fall into place, so I think this is something to constantly work on. I am no makeup artist but someone who loves beauty so I am constantly trying new techniques and products to get it right, sometimes I get it wrong and other’s I hit it right on the head. It is all about trial and error, just because something makes your friends skin look like she’s had a Hollywood treatment; it may not have the same effects on you. This is the same for everyone, whatever your age or gender so don’t panic if this happens to you.

Today I opted for big loose curls and the ‘No Makeup Look’ to help my skin recuperate. I focused my attention around my skin and my eyebrows. I can cope without mascara as I do tint my own eyelashes, (I have a ‘How To’ video on Youtube - the link is below) but I do think eyebrows shape a person face, I feel eyebrows are a really defining feature when applying makeup.

https://www.youtube.com/howtodyeyoureyeslashesandeyebrowsathome

Products Used:

L’Oreal Nude Magique BB Cream - Shade Light Skin Tone

L’Oreal true Match Foundation - Shade Golden Ivory

No 7 Perfect Light Pressed Powder - Translucent

No 7 High Lights Illuminating Powder – Shade Star Light

No 7 Compact Eye shadow Palette – Shade Brown

Applicators Used:

Real Techniques Foundation Brush

Real techniques Powder Brush

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

Define Beauty Angled Brush

Spooley Brush (Unbranded)

For my skincare I am now using a combination of my fingers and the No 7 Radiance Revealed Exfoliator which seems to be working quite nicely, but I will make sure I do a product review when I have used it for longer.

A lot of celebrities that have quite a loud style when it comes to makeup and fashion have recently been seen with their makeup to be quite low key. The 'No Makeup Look' has become a norm for the catwalk and is making its way into a lot of women's daily routine.

I think a lot of people were surprised to see Nicki Minaj and Lady Gaga with their toned down looks.

I hope you liked this look! Its simple and easy but if you would like to see a tutorial just leave your comments below!

Love

Technic Electric Palette

Recently I have been a on beauty high. I'm sure most beauty enthusiasts would agree with me that it's so easy to walk past a beauty shop and be drawn in by their endless amount of products and promotions. This is what has been happening to me a lot, recently in a one off store in Rotherham. As I entered the ladies working said a quick hello and left me to my own devices! I prefer that kind of attitude as it shows that they are there to help but are not going to stalk you around the shop.

Whilst I was browsing I came across this Technic Electric Eyeshadow Palette. I am not too sure whether I am not up to date on palettes but I hadn't really heard of the brand, I opened it up and there they were. An amazing selection of bright eyeshadows, something I had been looking for. I was searching for the price when came across a label for £1.99... 

So on a whim of course I bought it, like most beauty lovers! 

I got it home and just tested it slightly on my hand. The colours are so pigmented and bright, you don't really need to put a lot on your skin which is what we want from makeup. Feeling cakey is not a desired look!

This is my first attempt in using this palette, I chose you use the the bronze, pink and yellow colour for my first experiment and it turned out incredibly vibrant. It is very easy to blend with the other colours and applies to the skin like a high end product. I think this is an amazing palette for the price I paid for it, usually really bright eyeshadows are very pricey or they don't come out with any colour. I would 100% recommend this to other people who love wearing bold eyeshadow because the price, the product and the packaging is very eye catching. It's a great palette to have in your makeup collection or in your bag. 

If you can not find this where you live then definately check online, they sell it on amazon for £3.49. You can't go wrong with that price. They also do another set with more Neutral colours that I definately need to purchase as well. 

If you like this look and want to see a tutorial then please leave your comments below. 

I hope your enjoying the sun! 

Love

MOTD - Emerald Green

Today I have been editing my most recent DIY video for YouTube which is uploading as I write this, so don't forget to look out for that post soon.

For today's makeup I decided to do an emerald green look inspired by the new DIY! The eyeshadow is suttle and light, perfect for the summer. It is a mix between a grass green and a yellow/tropical green. These colours work well with my light complexion, blonde hair and green/blue eyes. So if you have similiar features then definately try out this look. It is a very refreshing look and there isn't much to it! Its quick and easy! 

Don't forget to tweet me @katyharmston!

Products used:

Loreal Nude Magique BB Cream - Shade Light Skin Tone
Loreal True Match Foundation - Shade Golden Ivory
MUA Cover and Conceal Concealer - Shade Light
Number 7 Perfect Light Pressed Powder - Translucent
Number 7 Eye Compact Palette
Bourjois Liner Feutre Eyeliner - Black
Avon Glimmer Stick Eyeliner - Black
Nivea Lash Elastic Extension Mascara - Black
Rimmel Jelly Gloss Lipgloss - Shade 040 Moreish 

Love 

Golden Smokey Eyes

     

Gold is one of those colours that suits everyone, whether you want a bold and dark gold or a very sheen like summer glow. As a YouTuber I created a series of 'Smokey Eyes' how to, asking my subscribers to leave there favourite colours so I could create different looks for the people who watch my videos. 

Gold was requested by one of my lovely subscribers, so here it is.

This is quite a bold and dark smokey eye, perfect for a night out. I do think I would like to do a light rose gold look for the summer, that will feel a lot lighter.

Products used in this video:

Loreal Studio Secrets Primer

Elizabeth Arden Shimmer Powder Trio Palette

N.Y.C Smooth Mineral Loose Powder Blush - Shade Almost Apricot

Urban Decay Half Baked Eye Shadow - Shade Fard a Paupieres

Number Seven Eye Compact Palette - Shade Brown

Colour Couture Eye Crayon - Shade Bronze

Nivea Lash Elastic Extension Mascara - Black

Loreal True Match Foundation - Shade Golden Ivory

Number Seven Lipstick - Shade 15 Plum Beautiful

Tools used in this video:

Elizabeth Arden Angled Eye Shadow Brush

Non branded Eye Shadow Brush

Non Branded Blending Eyeshadow Brush

Mac 194 Brush

Real Techniques Correction Sponge

Real Techniques Contour Brush

Real Techniques Buffing Brush

I hope you like this look, please checkout the video below and like and subscribe. If you have any comments make sure you leave them below along with your favourite eyeshadow colour!!

I hope your having an amazing Friday evening!!

Love

June Beauty Favourites

Have you seen my recent, well when I say recent I mean last week! I'm a bit late with this one and I promise I am going to do my very best to make it up to you guys! My aim is to get a post up everyday! 

My June beauty favourites consist of a lot of products whether is it Skincare, Haircare, Nail Varnish or Makeup. 

Skincare

For a while now I have been looking for and experimenting with a range of self tanners, but I can not stand the self tanning smell! As much as I would like to have that sun kissed glow, I will not smell like an orge in the process! 

Haircare

If you follow me on any of my Social Networks or are a Subscriber on YouTube, you will notice I have been wearing my hair curly recently. My hair is naturally curly so it's very easy for me to do and keeps my hair healthy as it only requires a small amount of heat!

Nail Varnish
When you are deciding on a nail varnish to purchase it doesn't really matter of the brand, you can buy cheap nail varnish or expensive nail varnish. The only real difference is the brighter colours may not be as pigmented, so with the cheaper nail varnishes you will have to apply layer after layer. When it comes to glitter nail varnishes I always stuck to BarryM, as some have more clear varnish than actual glitter particles; although some brands may surprise you!

Makeup

I think every women on the planet lusts after smooth looking healthy skin, but if don't have naturally flawless skin you have to find techniques and tools to make it appear that way! I found that my makeup was dripping off my face which isn't a good look let's face it! To get that flawless finish and a face that lasts all day isn't a difficult process, it's all about trial and error to figure out what works for you personally.

So to achieve flawless skin, a natural tan and a healthy hold for your hair, these products and tools have been my holy grail recently. 

Dove Sunkissed Summer Glow Nourishing Lotion 

Frizz-Ease Shape and Shine Flexible-Hold Hair Spray
George 3D Glitters Nail Varnish - Gold

Real Techniques Correction Sponge 

Real Techniques Contour Brush
Loreal Nude Magique BB Cream - Light Skin Tone

Loreal Truematch Foundation - Shade Golden Ivory

N.Y.C Smooth Mineral Loose Blush Powder - Shade Almost Apricot 

Number 7 High Lights Illuminating Powder - Shade Star Lights 

To add something extra to this video I have included another favourite but I won't spoil the suprise, so make sure you checkout the video below of my June Favourites.

Please Subscribe if you want to see more, it would make my day! 

Lots of love