The Liebster Awards!

“It doesn’t matter how many times you win an award, it is always very special.”

Zinedine Zindane

I am in utter shock that I have had my first nomination for the Liebster Awards by the beautiful @beautyandshe I’m reading your blogs daily and always enjoy every one of them!!

So the rules to this award are as follows:

Thank and link the person who nominated you

Answer the questions given by the nominator

Nominate 11 other bloggers (who have less than 200 followers) and link them

Create 11 new questions for the nominees to answer

Notify all nominees via social media/blogs

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1.Tea, coffee or?

Depends on whether I’ve got the custard creams out, whenever there’s a biscuit it’s got to be a tea? But if there is no biscuits and I have a sweet tooth then a sweet milky coffee!!

2. If you had the power to change the world, what would you change? Why?
Wow! What a question! I’ve got a dream that I would buy a big acre of land to live on and build hundred of kennels for rescue animals! Amazing charities like the RSPCA don’t have enough kennels and have no other choice but to sometimes resort to putting animals down who they are unable to find homes for! I would take these animals in and keep them until they found the perfect home! (I got a love for rescue animals watching the amazing Eldad Hagar’s youtube channel!)

3. What is the one thing that you do each day without fail?
Eat, sleep, rave, repeat! Hahaha I’m kidding that song just came in my head when I read that question! Let me think I do my make up everyday, play with my cat everyday, practice make up everyday, read blogs and watch youtube everyday.. girl stuff!

4. Finish this sentence ” There is beauty all around when …… “
There is beauty all around the world when kindhearted to one another and not jealous and spiteful

5. What is your favourite way to unwind?
I love to get cosied up in my jimjams and watch some t.v with my iPad reading and catching up on everything I’ve missed throughout the day!

6. Tell us about your favourite time of time and why it is your favourite time.
Not sure I fully understand this question? If we are talking about time in the day.. I’d say around 7pm as I’m home from work and can relax with family! Favourite time the year would be summer as I love the longer days, not having to worry about lumbering a coat around, more activites and feeling more motivated!!

7. What movie did you love to watch as a child?
Wow there was loads! I do remember watching The Road to El Dorado quite a lot!

8. If you were going to live on a deserted island, what three things could you not live without?
Hahahaha 1. Boyfriend (need someone to make me smile!) 2. Toothpaste! (The thought of not brushing my teeth makes me get sweaty palms!) 3. Visits to the nail salon! (I’m a girl chipped nails make me want to cry)

9. Share your favorite quote.
(I have 2 both told to me by my mum – not sure the original quoters) 1. No man is worth your tears & the one who is, won’t make you cry! 2. I love you more than yesterday but less than tomorrow.

10. If clothes ‘maketh the man’, what does what you are wearing right now say about you?
I am currently in a burgandy work dress (as I am currently at work) but I’ve jazzed it up with a belt around my waist and a black scarf with red flowers. My outfit says that I am professional but can still have a laugh!

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My nominations are…… (I’m imagining drum rolls in my head right now)

@patriciajaworski
@b-e-a-uty
@blueberrybloom
@fashionfoodsoul
@thebeautyyblogg
@labellezamoda
@emilyjanevintagemakeupartist
@kimstag
@dolledupbyj
@mjacks1225

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And my eleven questions are….

1. How did you end 2014?

2. What is your dream job?

3. If you was given Bill Gate’s bank details and you have 1 hour to spend as much as you want right now on whatever you want, what would you buy? (Remember you have an hour so if your planning on driving 30 minutes down the road to your local bentley garage before you travel 20 minutes down the road to the travel agents, you’ve only got 10 minutes to spend your money.. choose wisely!)

4. Apple or Android?

5. If you had to choose 1 place to spend the rest of your life.. where would it be? (can be a room, a city, a country, a planet etc)

6. If you could time travel, what moment would you travel back to? (Can be personal events to relive in 2007 or sit in the audience of the gladiators in the late first century BC)

7. Do you have an invention? (Whether it be possible or not, we wanna hear it!)

8. Your dream car?

9. One piece of jewellery for the rest of your life.. Choose now!

10. A celebrity to have dinner with? What would you talk about?

11. Favourite smell?

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Once again thanks for the nomination and I hope you have fun!!!

Don’t forget to subscribe!!

Jessica Rae x

Things about me!

“If you can’t handle me at my worst, you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best”

Marilyn Monroe

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1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

It’s wavy, borderline curly!

2. What is your natural hair colour?

Quite a warm brown.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

My hair is natural, however when I did dye it.. It was always at a salon (I used to work in one … FREEBIES!!)

4. How often do you wash your hair?

I’m SUPER lazy so I try to get away with not washing my hair as much as I can.. I can sometimes get away with like twice a week, if not then three times.

5. Do you wear the same style every day or change it?

Depends on where I go.. If I wash it on a week night I will probably straighten it the next day (hello bed hair!) If I wash it the morning of work I will leave it to dry naturally and if it’s the weekends I will straighten or curl depending on my outfit!

6. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

Salon all the way! I’m so bad at painting my nails!

7. How often to you change your nail polish?

Well since I get it done in a nail salon.. Every 3 weeks I go back and get infills and a new colour!

8. Do you polish your toes in the winter, too or just in the summer?

Yes all year round my hands and feet will match no matter what!

9. How long does it take to put on your makeup?

Well on a week day before work it takes me about 30-40 minutes, on the weekend it can take me up to an hour!!!

10. What do you do first? Face or eyes?

Face, if I do my eyes and brows then I’m bound the smudge them when applying my foundations and powders!

11. Do you “collect” makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

A few months ago it would have been a straight answer (get what I need, when I need it) but recently I’ve bought a few different foundations and blushers.. Not to collect, I’d say more experiment! I have make up for when I tan up and make up for my paler days.

12. How often do you wear false eyelashes?

Hmm on special occasions really but I recently got my hands on Younique 3D fibre lashes and that product my friends makes my lashes touch my brows! (Planning on doing a review very soon!)

13. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?

Of course!! I’m the type of girl to make an effort to go round my boyfriends house for a lazy sunday!! And everyone asks the same question “who are you impressing” and the answer my friend is ME! I like to look nice for me, it’s boosts my confidence and makes me more active and motivated!

14. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone (or with family)?

Depends what family… If it’s my mum, dad and sister then yeh I can rock that look, other members of family hell na I’m getting my face on, there is a 99% chance a camera will be out!

15. Will you leave the house without makeup?

Haha the only times I’ve left with no make up is when I have to get up and go home at 6 in the morning when my boyfriend goes to work! (It’s dark out no one can see)

16. How many high end products do you have?

If you read my ‘All I got for Christmas is’ blog then you would no I am not one to buy expensive products. Simply because I’ve never had the money the only ‘high end’ products I do have is Mac foundation, blusher, concealer and powder (present from sister) Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Pomade because I NEEDED a brow product and thought I’d treat myself and I have a Estée Lauder lippy colour ‘Tiger Eye’ which is a very light gold shimmery brown which my friend gave me because it wasn’t her colour!

17. How often do you wash your makeup brushes?

Whenever I buy or change the product I’m using

18. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?

I’m terrible for this and always leave it until the last minute and get stressed out!! But I do have some sort of idea in my head of what I want to wear!

19. How often do you change your handbag?

Whenever I buy a new one, currently I have my gorgeous Michael Kors bag in tan which I got as a present from my boyfriend and I’m not planning on changing that any time soon as I got the matching purse for Christmas and I have a pair of gorgeous Russell and Bromleys that match perfectly!

20. What time do you get up & go to sleep?

I’m a early bird!! Sleep no later than 10pm and I’m up not later than 7am.. Weekends and weekdays! (I live a crazy life I know)

21. How often & when do you workout?

Hahahaha funny question… Right now I do nothing!!! But after my birthday (22nd January) I’m going to start running 2-3 times a week after work!

22. Left-handed or Right-handed?

I’m a lefty!! And shame on all your righty’s that would have burnt me at the stake thinking I’m a witch in the olden days!

23. How tall are you?

I’m not sure exactly but I think about 5’5 to 5’6?

24. Do you speak a foreign language?

No but I would LOVE too! And will be taking a course to learn a second language in the future!

25. How many pets do you have?

My cat Mitzie!! He’s about 14 years old now!!! But he is the cutest thing and I love him so much!!!

26. How often are you on Blogger?

Not as much as I would like to be but every few days!

27. Do you read the comments posted in blogs?

For every post I read!!

28. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

I screenshot, note down, save all things I NEED!

29. How did you come up with your blog name?

Well my name is Jessica Rae Briley but I didn’t want to use my surname so Jessicaraebeauty just had the same ring to it and it was a beauty blog so I thought it just gelled well together!

30. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?

Canon Ixus 160 which my boyfriends amazing parents and sister bought me for Christmas!!!

31. How often do you clean your house? (Daily, weekly, other)

Erm…. like once a week

32. What is your favourite colour?

Don’t really have an all time fav it changes like the whether but right now I’m loving all shades of purple, indigos and mauves!

33. What is your favorite beauty/fashion magazine?

I don’t read any magazine type things other than the daily mail.. I get all my fashion, hair and beauty tips from Instagram, WordPress and Youtube really!

34. Do you swear?

I’d be lying if I said I didn’t, it comes out.. like tourettes!

35. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

What I’m supposed to be doing which is (at work) then when I finish at 4 I shall be going over to Mike’s as it’s his birthday tomorrow!!

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I nominate whoever can be bothered to read this!

Don’t forget to subscribe!

Jessica Rae x

Here’s that saying again… New Year New Me!

This is a new year. A new beginning. And things will change.

Taylor Swift

I know that everybody enters the new year with this frame of mind. And nothing ever changes, I never had in my mind that I was going to completely reconsider the way I live either, but something has happened to me which has made me jump on the bandwagon and think yeah I’ll give that a go!

So I’ve had a few what I like to call dreams which I would love to accomplish and recently sat back and thought ‘you know what I’m going to put these dreams into action, why would I not be capable of a successful life?’

Okay so this year I turn 20 and have recently landed myself a new job in the scary city of London and along with this big financial and opportunity boost I’ve got I can begin to really organise the structure of how I’m going to sort out my life.

Yes I am going to go through the whole ‘healthy mind, healthy life’ thing and try my best at the old diet and exercise malarky! I’m not going to do a strict diet and complicated exercise regime (because who sticks to that)? I’m going to set myself a target to do 10,000 steps per day and cut out fizzy drinks, sugary and salty snacks.

Want to know where I got this sudden burst of motivation from? Katie Hopkins: My fat story. Now if none of you have heard of Katie Hopkins she is the ‘bitch’ of television (to put it nicely, she’s been called much worse) now while I don’t agree with some of her debates for example judging a child by their name, I most definitely agree with her recent theory and experiment.

Theory: If you eat more and sit on your bum all day, you WILL get fat. If you eat less and move more you WILL lose weight!

Experiment: For 3 months she ate ridiculous amounts of calories (upto 6000 a day!!) and gained a whopping 4 stone! (56lbs) for the next 3 months she worked out 3 times a week and walked 10,000 steps a day to prove if you have the determination and motivation you WILL loose weight!!

And Katie Hopkins proved her point indeed!

Although this will be hard to start, with the support from my family I believe I can do this (I’m looking to lose about 2 stone – 28lbs)

Statistic: “It takes 21 days to form a new habit.” If I can get through 21 days of eating healthy and exercising I will be good to go!

Another goal this year is to travel somewhere gorgeous and hot! I like the sound of the Dominican Republic but I would LOVE to see the pyramids in Eqypt!

One last goal is to hopefully move out and start a new chapter with Mike (my boyfriend) so a lot of saving is going to have to be put in place but with this new job I can only see my scale rising higher and higher!

What are your goals for 2015?

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Jessica Rae x

Babyliss Curl Secret Limited Edition

“Gorgeous hair is the best revenge”

Ivana Trump

So for Christmas I got my mum the Babyliss Curl Secret and in some ways a Christmas present for myself (secretly).

This is just a quick review on how I feel about the product.

ITS GREAT! If you struggle to curl your hair using tongs, straighteners or your hairdryer then this is the perfect tool for you! It’s quick, easy to use and gives you the most perfect curls.

There is two heat settings depending on the strength and health of your hair and there is also three timer settings, 8 seconds for loose waves, 10 seconds for medium curls and 12 seconds for tight spiral curls.

Personally I use all three timers at different stages on different amounts of hair so I have very textured and volumed hair!

Once all my hair is completely curled I do admittedly begin to look like Little Bow Beep!

But with a good dressing out brush or what I use (my fingers) the curls turn your hair into a natural high fashion style which would fool anyone into thinking you’ve just walked out of Vidal Sassoon’s hair salon!

After a few attempts and practice you’ll be able to do your whole hair in half an hour, well I managed it and I don’t have thin hair!

The following pictures of my hair is with literally no product just freshly washed hair so I can’t even imagine what this tool would do with a good sculpting foam and some serum!

What’s your curl secret?

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Jessica Rae x

All I got for Christmas is…..

“You can always tell what kind of a person a man really thinks you are by the earrings he gives you.”

Audrey Hepburn

Happy New Year!!

Haven’t posted anything for a couple weeks as I have been off work so had no access to a decent computer! But fear not I got a iPad for Christmas woop woop!!! So I can finally post more regularly once I get used to how to work it! (I apologise in advance for any auto correct I don’t manage to notice).

So the last few months of 2014 I got really into make up and my appearance.

So what better gifts for everyone to get me but makeup!

I think I had a little spy on my blog as I actually got quite a few things on my Christmas wish list!!

So I’ve never been one to buy expensive makeup really. Just because I’ve never really had the money, but this year my beautiful sister got me some Mac concealer, foundation, pressed powder and some blusher, and my word I love it!! I’d say the best out of all is probably the blusher it’s such a gorgeous colour and really compliments my skin tone, the whole range makes my skins looks FLAWLESS!!!

I also got this beautiful limited edition Mac make up bag and brushes which I absolutely adore! Although it’s so white I’m afraid to use them!!! They are a petite beautiful size perfect for putting away in your bag for the days out I case of a makeup emergency!!!

Not only did I ask for the vanilla lime scented Yankee candle but I also got pink dragon fruit and mango peach salsa scented Yankees as well, all three smells really compliment each other and really relaxes me when I’m copied up in bed watching films!

And finally amazingly enough I got my glazed Apple body shop range! I was so excited about this and the smell is even better than I remembered!! I’ve nearly used the bar or soap up and bath jelly already! I really recommended as the smell lasts all day and it so refreshing and sweet!

I also do have a couple of other things which I want to save for more blogs.. I.e reviews etc!

If you want me to do any particular blogs on any specific items I got then let me know in the comments!

What did you get for Christmas in 2014?

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Jessica Rae x

Christmas Wishlist!

“We can change our lives. We can do, have, and be exactly what we wish”

Tony Robbins

Dear Father Christmas,

I’ve been a really good girl this year and have seen some beautiful things that I would love to see in my stocking this year!

1. The Body Shop – Glazed Apple range – I have never smelt anything to sweet in all my life and when testing it out in the shop the hand cream stayed with me all day giving my a sudden burst of fruity deliciousness every time I waved my hand, the lip balm didn’t only leave my lips soft but had a somewhat nice taste to it (unlike some bland or chemical tastes some lip balms leave you) The smell is so relaxing and I would do anything to soak with the bath jelly and lather some suds with the shower gel! And then finish up with some body shimmer lotion or body butter to give my skin the silky glazed treatment it is dying for!
2. Yankee Candle – Vanilla Lime – While I give myself a pamper, whether this be in my fruity bath or my fruity moisturize, I would lap up the relaxation with the most beautifully sweet smell of the Vanilla Lime Yankee Candle, it’s not so sour or sickly as both scents counteract each other at just the right balance, leaving you a fresh almost flowery smell to indulge in!
3. Spectrum Collections – Deluxe Eye and Lip Set – Not only are these brushes uniquely designed in terms of colour but this beautiful 16 piece set (which is vegan and cruelty free) is at an affordable price range! At £39.99 or £4.99 each! This is a perfect Christmas gift!
4. Younique – 3D Fiber Lashes – After I’ve applied my beautiful eye and lip make up with my Spectrum brushes, I will need to open my eyes with the 3D Fiber Lash Mascara, I have heard such good things about this product and I’m pretty fed up with sticking on false eyelashes all the time!
5. Thierry Mugler – Alien – To complete my look, I will need my all time fav perfume! Not only does it last all day but I always get compliments on this scent, it is beautiful and I’m down to my last little spritz! It’s my party perfume which I wear on nights out – What else am I going to wear NYE?

So Santa.. Seeing as I’ve been a good girl this year, I’ll be hoping to see these under my tree.. but if it’s all a bit too much to ask, how about a drastic sales drop in January???

Maybe you can tell Father Christmas what you want this year too?

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Jessica Rae x

Winter Wonderland – Is it overrated?

“Maybe Christmas, the Grinch thought, doesn’t come from a store”

Dr. Seuss

Winter Wonderland. Hyde Park. London

1 word – a-maz-ing!

Never been before but yesterday I got on the train straight to London Victoria and became a child all over again, the excitement was something else!

Me, Mike, my sister and her boyfriend Steve started the day with a feast (in Nandos) and made our way to Hyde Park.. You could see the tall drop rides from so far, lighting up the sky! After walking for what seemed like a day we arrived, no queues or long waits, straight in, money out and we began to make our way to our first Winter Wonderland experience through the sea of crowds!

The Magical Ice Kingdom! A whole castle made from ICE! It was -8 in there so we wrapped up warm and huddled together.. Beautifully detailed ice sculptures and even 2 thrones and a slide to have a go on!! Of course with my group who’s ages range from 20 to 26 we did the sensible and mature thing by queuing up to have a go on the slide. Me and my sister Loucie obviously didn’t quite understand the logic of this slide as we didn’t glide all the way down and ended up having to pull ourselves down the slide, so we was pretty disapointed when we come down since we had queued for about 20 minutes to do this.. all of a sudden Steve and Mike both come bombing it down and nearly knocked us out like bowling pins! (we was supposed to lay on our back when we come down)

The Ferris Wheel was next! Queuing again for another 30 minutes, we was in a carriage, it then all of a sudden dawned on me that I don’t like heights whatsoever but I stuck it out trying not to look down too much but I got a good photo!

Next was a funhouse! This was the best part! Just like at the end of Grease! It was so funny and a great experience, I could have done it over and over! Trying to make our way through this house with water and air spraying at you and vibrating simulator rooms, not including the rotating and spinning floors you have to walk on!

The last part of my Winter Wonderland day was the 5D Cinemas! 6 minutes of being dragged and pulled in your chair, adventures including space, underwater and laboratories! Water splashed in your face and tiny spider like robots grabbing at your feet!!

We finished our night by taking a walk to see Buckingham Palace and to be honest I have never really taken much thought into it, but the beautiful embellished gates and the tall white palace behind it took my breath away! I had to become a tourist and get a couple of snaps before jumping back on that train for an hour and crawling in bed!

So is it overrated? – You pay for what you get. A lot of people say they don’t think it’s that good but if your not willing to pay then it’s not going to be! There’s tonnes of different things you can do there! Rides, food, ice skating, circus etc but they all come at a price!

If you want to go in the Magical Ice Kingdom, you have to buy a ticket.
If you want to go in the Circus, you have to buy a ticket.
If you want to go Ice Skating, you have to buy a ticket.
If you wanted to see The Feeling in concert, you had to buy a ticket.
If you want to go on all the rides, you have to buy tokens!

Yes it’s not cheap but your experience is what you make it and I think my experience was 100% worth the aching feet and frozen toes!

       

What Winter/Christmas experiences are you up to or have done this year?

What do you think of Winter Wonderland?

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Jessica Rae x

Winter Wardrobe!

“Fashion fades, only style remains the same”

Coco Chanel

So it’s getting to that time of year where it’s cold and all you want to do is wrap up in big baggy jumpers and fluffy socks! (Well.. I do anyway)

And I’m often left changing my outfits about 100 times in the morning because I feel I never look ‘stylish’ enough, although I always have an idea I make up in my mind.. So I thought I would share some of these with you.

Okay so there are 2 looks I have created which I think is great for this time of year! There is also another part which I had added in which is just some winter accessories I love!

CountryGirl

I’ve always LOVED this look, it looks classy and traditional with very little effort! The key to create this look is based under 2 simple items: a good pair of wellies and a great waterproof and warm coat.

Wellies are now becoming quite a vital piece in our wardrobe after the last few years and it’s essential that you know how to work them! My best bet is to grab a neutral colour pair that will match every outfit, therefore whether you are popping out for a quick maccy’s breakfast or taking the dog for the walk, your outdoor footwear will match whenever the time, wherever the place, whatever the outfit. I love the hunter boots (doesn’t everybody?) I have the brown quilted pair with the classic tag on the side, other neutral colours I would suggest are blacks, browns, khakis and navy.

A great coat needs to be warm and waterproof the barber coat is a great traditional choice and always looks classy, another coat I have recently fallen in love with is a parka! These can be worn with any outfit and you can dress them out however you want!!

Underneath these two fab choices you can go as casual as you like! But if your looking to wow that fitty who does his morning run while you walk the dog then throw on a good pair of jodhpurs or treggings, a gorgeous mink colored jumper and of course top that off with a great eye-catching scarf.. Do all that girls and he won’t be chasing circuits anymore, he’ll be chasing you!!

LeatherLady

This look can suit anyone! You can always wear leather wherever you go, it has become such a large part of the fashion world that you can buy dresses, t-shirts, trousers, leggings, jackets and one of my all time favourite leather looks is of course Sandy from Grease! I love red and black together I think both colours compliment eachother so well!

So what does every girl need in her wardrobe? A leather jacket of course! Wear this with a pair of black skinny jeans or a dress, to top this sexy look off add in some killer red lipstick but keep your eyes soft with nude browns and some mascara, never go too heavy with the eyes if you’ve gone bold with the lips – and vice versa.

FierceFur

I’m always in two minds with fur clothes but I love jazzing all my outfits up with fur accessories! So this part is all the recent pieces I love!

What are your winter warmers this year?

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Jessica Rae x

Sexy Motherpucker!

“You can’t keep changing men, so you settle for changing your lipstick”

Heather Locklear.

So while 50% of the world are loving off Kylie Jenner’s lips and the other 50% saying she looks like a blow up doll I am on the fence with this one.

I think full lips complete every face.. depending on how you dress it. Kylie looks beautiful in more natural nude/pink shades (in my opinion) rather than those bold reds and purples that make her look like a bratz doll.

I am lucky to say I have full shapely lips and once again on my late night browsing came across a video tutorial for the ‘Kylie look’ tried it out with some good results!!

I think all the tutorials are somewhat similar: Start with a lip liner – slightly overdrawing/darkening the middle of the bottom lip > shade in the inner corners of both top and bottom lips > fill middle part of lips in with a lighter shade of previous lipstick > pat a light cream or loose powder into the middle of the lips (optional)

What does everyone think?

  

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Jessica Rae x

Let’s kick this off then!

“When your eyeliner is on point, your life is on point“

My first ever beauty post!

So last night I was in an inspirational beauty mood, it’s amazing what clicking your way through a few hashtags and usernames on Instagram can do!! It all started by looking through my news feed (as you do) and before I new it I was on Nicola Kate’s profile on instagram (username @NICOLA_KATE) she does some absolutely stunning eye make up!!! BIG BIG BIG inspiration! Even BIGGER of an inspiration when I found out she is the perfect eyeliner meme photo!!!

So I never really have experimented with eyeliner, just the usual top lid on the occasional night out but this was my main focus last night in front of my magnifying mirror! I followed Nicola’s picture tutorial she posted some time ago (posted below) and for a first attempt it wasn’t that bad (if I do say so myself)

I think with a bit of practice this will be a new look for my nights out!!!

Anyone else mastered the arts of the wing yet?

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Jessica Rae x