Maybelline Gel Eyeliner Review

If you follow me on Twitter (@arumlilea) you will know that I'm a huge Jaclyn Hill fan.  Needless to say, I find myself buying half the products she uses in her videos.  One such item is the Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Eyeliner.  I have a love/hate relationship with gel liners because I really battle to find one that I like.  When I do, I stick with it through thick and thin.  Up until this point in time I haven't found a single gel liner that I've fallen head over heels for, but finally the hunt is over!

The Maybelline Eye Studio Gel Liner comes in this gorgeous, dinky little paint pot and the moment I pulled it out of its packaging I knew I was going to fall in love with it.  The pot of gel liner is also sold with a gel liner brush which I have been quite happy with which is also surprising as I never seem to find a brush that I'm 100% impressed by either.

I have worn it every single day since I bought it and it is still impressing me.  I'm so excited to have finally found a gel liner that does smudge all over my eyelid an hour after I've applied it.  Once it is applied, it sets and it doesn't move until I wash it off.

I bought this gel liner in the shade Black Chrome and while it is black, it's not the jet-black that I'm accustomed to and it does have a teeny tiny amount of shimmer in it too which I have never experienced before.  I know that there is another shade of black in this eyeliner so I will probably try that out next time I need a new gel liner but this one definitely does the job wonderfully.

What's my verdict?  Brilliant packaging, smooth application and long lasting wear.  This product deserves a 5/5 because it's pretty perfect.  Thanks Jaclyn!

Floral Playsuit

Cotton On playsuit | Cotton On hat | Blackcherry bag | Europa Art shoes | Lovisa accessories

I fell in love with this floral playsuit the moment I laid eyes on it.  I love absolutely everything about it from the light, soft fabric to the long wispy sleeves to the cinched in waist.  It's so feminine and perfect for summer.  I would definitely wear this for drinks or dinner with friends or out for a date with le bf.  What do you think?

Happy Monday!

How to Dress for Work

Zara blazer | Spree dress | Forever New clutch | Aldo heels | Michael Kors watch | Zuri earrings

People often think that dressing for work means that your outfit needs to be completely boring.  I have to admit, when I walk through some stores that sell corporate work wear, my heart sinks.  It is as though these awful clothes completely zap you of all your personality and, quite literally, your colour.  Black and grey work clothes with unflattering cuts dampen my mood.  This is the last thing you need in a professional environment when a career is on the line.  Rather than having your wardrobe cause you to feel dull and uninspired, you really need to feel strong, confident and ready to march into a boardroom and be noticed.  A women that is not only brilliant at her work but also arrives at the office having but some effort into her appearance are normally the ones that are taken seriously and are also admired by their co-workers.

To do this isn't difficult and it won't break the bank either.  I have a few key tips that can revolutionise your work wear and your professional performance at the same time.  To begin, let's start with the foundation:  at work you want to be respected.  This means that your super short skirt can stay at home.  Remember that "three fingers above the knee" rule from school?  Use it!  We don't want to see any cleavage and no backless dresses either.  Personally, I don't even think your shoulders should be exposed at work.  If you want to wear a backless dress or top with straps, I would suggest a blazer or a cardigan to cover this.  These are also essential items for a professional girl's wardrobe so it's worth finding a few with great tailoring in your favourite colours.

While you may have minimum amount of skin exposed this does not mean that your outfit need be boring.  Incorporate colour, print and patterns into your clothes.  Do you love pastels?  Are you crazy about floral print?  Do you look and feel best in turquoise?  Add these to your wardrobe.  A crisp white shirt paired with a bold red pencil skirt and nude heels are super classy and will have every girl feel confident enough to take on any challenge thrown at her.  Midi skirts are also widely available now which makes them accessible to every girl on every budget.  These are a great way of ensuring you have enough length, remain gracefully feminine and ready to rock the boardroom.  

I hope that I have managed to encourage you to incorporate more of your own personality into what you choose to wear at work.  Don't be afraid to be noticed as the classy girl you are.  At the end of the day, you've worked so hard to get where you are so take pride in yourself.  You deserve it! 

Essie Professional Application Spring Colours

I don't know a single girl that isn't obsessed with Essie Professional Application nail polishes.  A mani or pedi using these polishes are so long lasting and the colour range is spectacular.  You can find me wearing Essie nail polishes all year round whether it be wine colours in winter, pastels in spring and brights in summer.  They have a colour for every mood and every occassion which I absolutely love.  Each colour is also named so uniquely and usually have me experience an inward chuckle.

This spring there are a couple new fun shades that I wanted to share with you today.

• Spin The Bottle:  This is the beige shade shown above.  It's a gorgeous nude that I think would look gorgeous with a little glitter on the ring finger.
• Romper Room:  A beautiful pale pink that is super girly.  It is very light and feminine.  I love really light nail polishes so this one might possibly be my favourite.
• Fashion Playground:  A minty fresh pastel green shade that's such a fun shade for me.  I'm a creature of habit and I always end up sticking to shades of pink and red so this is a great way to switch things up a bit.  A change is as good as a holiday!
• Truth or Flare:  This colour reminds me of a perfect blue sky without a single cloud in the middle of summer.  It has me feeling so positive and spring-ready.
• Good To Go top coat:  This nail polish is going to seal the deal, literally.  This top coat makes all the difference in ensuring your mani/pedi is long lasting and maintains its shine.  

It's easy to tell why Essie selected these shades to be part of their spring collection because as the season has changed we have have seen these colours burst into life around us in our gardens or driving through leafy suburbs.  I love incorporating these seasonal shades into what clothes I wear, what shades of lipstick I use and most certainly in the shade of nail polish I choose. Which one is your favourite?

Belle's Patisserie

Cotton On dress | Aldo wedges | Blackcherry bag | Zuri earrings

Last week my sister and I headed to Belle's Patisserie to help them pick out their Ultimate Summer Cupcake and I decided to throw on something light and breezy such a sugary occassion.  Cupcakes for breakfast?  Sounds like the best kind of breakfast.  I wore this dress with my favourite wedges which I can't seem to stop wearing.  They're just the very best shoes for daytime events because they're comfortable, summery and a little more casual than a stiletto heel.

The Ultimate Summer Cupcake flavours had been narrowed down to Orange & Ginger, Coca Cola, Lavender, Summer Fruit and Pina Colada.  It was a tough decision but the Pina Colada cupcake was my favourite flavour for summer and I was thrilled to find that it has since been named the Ultimate Summer Cupcake.  You need to try it!  The Orange & Ginger cupcake and their all time classic Red Velvet are aslo winners in my book too.  If you're looking for a sweet treat, you definitely need to visit Belle's Patisserie at the Blubird Shopping Centre.

Tel: 011 440 4474

A big thank you to Belle's Patisserie for inviting me to take part in the Ultimate Summer Cupcake selection.  It really was so much fun!

Merci Paris Graphic t-shirt and Skort

Cotton On graphic t-shirt | Cotton On skort | ALDO wedges | Blackcherry bag | Michael Kors watch | Zuri accessories

I have been all for the return of the skirt and shorts combination a.k.a the skort.  I think it is such a gorgeous trend.  I have to admit I do not feel comfortable in short skirts at all but somehow a skort doesn't bother me at all.  It's probably because it's a lot more practical and there is no risk of climbing out of my car and having my short skirt suddenly decide it would rather be a belt.  They also fit higher on the waist which makes them even more comfortable but also flatters your legs.  I found this particular pair at Cotton On.  They are so reasonably priced and they have also have a variety of different prints and colours. 

I couldn't wait to pair this skort with a graphic t-shirt and a pair of espadrilles wedges for a great summery look!  What do you think?

Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy review

I've been lucky enough to try out the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy Longwear Nail Enamel recently.  Let me start off by saying that I won't be seen dead without my nails being in tip top condition but that being said I'm also one of those girls who are eternally in a rush.  As a result, I really appreciate nail polishes that are quick drying and long lasting.  If you're anything like me you will love the Revlon ColorStay Gel Envy polishes because they are absolutely perfect for the girl on the run.

These nail polishes combine a base coat and colour in one bottle which saves so much time as it is.  The second step towards beautiful nails is the Gel Envy Diamond Top Coat which is a protective coat which will lengthen the life of your manicure and give you lots of shine.  These polishes really are salon quality.  My manicure lasted a week without any signs of chips or fade.  The only reason I will be removing it will be to change colours.  I have tested how easy it is to remove the polish and I was pleasantly surprised that it came off with nail polish remover quite easily and with no buffing at all.  This is a bonus for me because I really don't enjoy soaking and buffing.

The Revlon ColorStay polishes come in 30 gorgeous shades with such fun names.  The colours in the second picture from left to right are Lady Luck, Beginner's Luck, Hot Hand and Full House.   I will definitely be using them throughout summer as they're all such bright, fun colours.  The shade currently on my nails is Hot Hand and I think I might switch it up for Full House next.

These polishes will be available from the end of September at will retail for R110.00.

What to wear to a music festival {Part 2}

Topshop flower crown | Mr Price top and shorts | Cotton On sneakers | Mr Price sling bag | Topshop sunnies | Forever New bracelets and ring

To follow on from yesterday's post, here is a more realistic outfit for a music festival.  I swapped the wedges for sneakers and my gold clutch for a peach sling bag and I was much more comfortable which is key when you're going to be standing for ages.

What do you think?  What would you wear?

What to wear to a music festival {Part 1}

Topshop flower crown | Mr Price top and shorts | ALDO espadrille wedges | Topshop sunnies | Forever New clutch and bracelets

I had been wondering what to wear to a music festival for ages.  Like every other girl out there, I searched through Pinterest for some inspiration and I found all sorts of things.  Most outfits I found were quite grunge and while I appreciate the look, I'm too much of a girly-girl to wear anything of the sort.  I did love the all the flower crowns though so I knew I had to have one.  I had quite a bit of inspiration from Carli Byble who did a video on what she would wear to a music festival.  I really liked her idea of high waisted shorts, a tank top and a clutch.  She finished off her look with wedges which, personally, I think is impractical for a festival but maybe, just maybe, you could get away with it for a concert.  To marry the two looks I grabbed my flower crown, high waisted shorts, wedges and added a lace-frilled top et voila!  A fun girly music festival outfit!

Let's be real though... there is no ways you will find me standing on my feet all day in the sun and all the dust in wedges, sorry Carli.  To find out how I really wore this outfit, stop by tomorrow for a more practical version of what to wear to a music festival.  

Casual Glamour

Top gifted | Mr Price skirt (here) and clutch | Woolworths heels (similar here) | Michael Kors watch | Lovisa rings | Zuri bracelets

There is nothing more feminine than a great dress or skirt.  Now that spring is in the air it has been absolutely wonderful to wear a skirt without tights.  I couldn't wait to pair this skirt with sandals and a t-shirt for a casual but still glamorous look.  What have you been wearing to celebrate the change of season?

Happy Wednesday!