bloomzy /

Review: DHC Liquid Eyeliner EX Pen

Liquid eye liner is one of my must-have beauty products.
I use it in my everyday make-up so it’s important I have a good one.
Recently I was recommended a liquid eyeliner pen by Japanese brand DHC.
I love Japanese beauty products, and DHC, so of course I had to try it out.
Pros:
+ Applies easily
+ Love the packaging
+ Good staying power

Cons:
– Smudges during wear
– Needs to be used with a primer

Notes:
I really wanted to like this and to start with I did. I noticed that some of the liner had smudged (transferred) from my upper lid but I thought that may have just been because I didn’t use primer on the first wear. I prefer not to have to use a primer but I understand that some products just need it. Yet when I wore it using primer it still smudged. I really don’t know how to work this liner, as the person who recommended it uses it everyday and had no problem with it. I guess I’ll have to just try another primer. On the plus side, this applies well and seems to stay, despite the smudging. On top of that the packaging is simple and cute, and the pen itself is great for carrying in your handbag. I’m on the fence about this one. Price wise it’s on the higher end of what I would usually pay at £16, so I’ll definitely be giving it another try before I give up entirely.
You can buy DHC’s Liquid Eyeliner EX at Beauty Mart.
bloomzy /

Giveaway: Valentine’s Day Nude Eye Look

I hate to get involved in the Valentine’s Day hype, but I love any excuse to get dolled up! I wanted to share that fun a little bit and so I thought it might be nice to do a giveaway. The MUA Ever After Matte Eyeshadow Palette is great because you can create a simple nude eye, or a sultry smokey eye. Of course you have to have long luscious lashes to complete the look so I’ve also included Elf’s wonderful 3-in-1 Mascara. I hope everyone can feel good about themselves, and look good this Valentine’s Day whether you’ll be spending it with your partner, friends or with a yummy tub of ice cream!
What can you win?
MUA Matte Nude Palette & ELF 3-in-1 Mascara
 
How to enter:
+ Be a follower of ‘Bloomzy’ via Bloglovin
+ Earn extra entries on Twitter, Facebook etc.
– This giveaway is open to UK participants only!
– Entrants who do not follow the rules will be disqualified.
– Twitter accounts created purely for giveaways will be disqualified.
The giveaway is open for 11 days (ending 8th Feb at 12am).
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck!

 

bloomzy /

Style: How to Style A Slip Dress

The slip dress is one of those trends that crept up on me. I didn’t really see too much of it on the high street until about a month or so ago. Now they’re popping up everywhere and I can’t wait to start seeing people style them. So I decided to style four different looks, all with the one same slip dress from Topshop.

Style 1
– Topshop Slip Dress
– Denim Jacket
– Black Rim Raybans
– ASOS Jewelled Earcuff
– Lacoste Pastel Trainers
– Cheap Monday Roll Over Clutch

Style 2
– Topshop Slip Dress
– Chambray Shirt
– Aviator Sunglasses
– Chain Collar Necklace
– Love Moschino Shopper Bag
– Kandy Strap Buckle Shoes

Style 3
– Topshop Slip Dress
– Rhinestone Necklace
– Smart Backpack
– Leather Jacket
– Tortoiseshell Sunglasses
– Thick Strap Heels

Style 4
– Topshop Slip Dress
– Knitted Crop Jumper
– Angular Sunglasses
– Striped Bow Hair Clip
– Snake Coin Bag
– Astley Clarke Stacking Ring
– Pastel Sneakers

I think you can have a lot of fun just dressing one item in a variety of ways. I prefer casual & fun coordinates like 1 & 4, but I also like simply stylish codes such as 2 & 3 at times. I think I need to get myself a slip dress now…

bloomzy /

What’s In My Handbag?

What’s Inside My Handbag? Bag from: Oasap*
I’ve always been a big fan of big bags, but recently I decided to downsize what I carry around with me, hoping that if I cleared out my bag I could clear out my mind also. I like the inside of my handbag to be as cute as the outside, but I like organisation too, so I try to keep everything tidy.
Inside my bag you’ll find:
Kurt Geiger purse,
Kurt Geiger oyster card holder,
Whistles make-up bag,
Swoop pouch
 Of course I couldn’t live without my iPhone either, or my Frends headphones – music helps keep me sane.
Everything I need for my day-to-day life.
bloomzy /

OOTD: You Can’t Be Me, I’m A Rock Star

Jacket – H&M | Top – Pull & Bear | Leggings* – Oasap | Necklace – Primark | Watch – Marc by Marc Jacobs
Not gonna lie, I am feeling a bit like a rock star in today’s outfit of the day. It may not help that I’m also sat listening to N*E*R*D’s ‘Rockstar’ as I type this. I challenge you not to feel sassy whilst wearing a pair of leather look leggings and a fluffy jacket though. I was sent these Oasap leggings recently, but I’ve been lusting after a similar pair for quite a while. The cut-out effect is simple but looks pretty cool. Even better paired with my H&M jacket. I wore this pretty much every other day before Christmas – it’s soft, fluffy and super warm. I did abandon it a bit after Christmas though, and I felt bad so I brought it back out today. The amazing necklace was a Christmas gift from my bestie Jemi, and I love it! I’d been looking at it before, which is testament to how well she knows me.
Looking at this outfit I should have named it something like 50 Shades of Grey. I have gone back slightly to black and grey coordinates, but I think this flows well. I can be excused if it looks good, right? 
bloomzy /

New Hair, Don’t Care!

After literally months of debating it, I have changed my hair colour.
I went back to Bleach, as they’re the only hair colourists I trust now.
If you don’t remember (shame on you!) my hair was a vibrant red before.
I wanted to go darker, back to my natural colour, so they matched up my roots.
My natural colour is a very dark brown (almost black), so it was a big change!
As they matched my roots, it means there’s pretty much no maintenance involved.
I wanted it a bit different though so I asked for an ombré dip-dye on the ends.
I’m hoping to go back soon and get the ends bleached/lightened a bit more.
Bleach may like using bleach, but they know how much and when to do it.
I’m so happy to have darker hair again, it’s been forever!
I was genuinely shocked when they matched my roots up and I realised how dark they were.
It’s been a long time since I saw my natural colour properly, but I think I’m gonna like it.
bloomzy /

Where to Eat in London: Village East of Bermondsey

 Village East of Bermondsey – Lunch, Dinner, Weekend Brunch – Bermondsey: Website
– reservations available –
Village East of Bermondsey is a European bar/restaurant located on Bermondsey Street. The outside is welcoming, and inside the decor is simple and stylish. I headed there on a Friday evening with 3 friends. Bermondsey is not somewhere I head often. I’ve only been there twice and I never really expected to find any ‘decent’ restaurants. Luckily a foodie friend of mine just moved to the area and had already checked out the place. We had made reservations and were lead to our table as soon as we arrived. It turned out that we were sat directly opposite the kitchen, and this wasn’t any little ol’kitchen with a window. This was an open plan kitchen with chefs plating up the food right in front of you. I thought it might be a bit noisy and off-putting to start with, but it added to the lively atmosphere, and we all enjoyed watching the chefs and wondering if it was our plate heading out next. We ordered a main and a dessert each; I went for the Soft Shell Crab Bap, and the Pineapple & Mascarpone Trifle. My crab bap originally seemed like an odd choice for an evening meal but my woes were left behind me as soon as I took my first bite. The bun and crab were delicious, and the sauce & garnish complimented it wonderfully, whilst the chips were cooked perfectly. I didn’t want it to end. As for the dessert, I felt it was a fun and tasty take on the traditional British trifle, but it lacked a little extra something. I think next time I would go for something a bit sweeter.
The service at Village East of Bermondsey was perfectly on point. The waiters were friendly and fast with our food and orders, but didn’t make us feel as though we had to be herded in and out. I will definitely be heading back, most certainly to check out the brunch menu.