Makeup Magic

I have been looking for a long time for a matte eyeshadow palette in blacks and greys, and I was really happy when I saw a demo of the Kat Von D Shade + Light palette and discovered it was matte. Kat Von D recently opened a counter at Debenhams in my closest town so I popped in and picked one up. I was excited to try it on and so was pretty disappointed to open it at home and find it was smashed to bits (and making a huge mess all over the bed cover where I was sitting). I took it back the next day and the girls were apologetic and said it was the 3rd return from that batch and they were now suspecting the courier had been banging it about. The eyeshadows are quite soft and so on reflection if they were being roughly transported I guess that does explain it. I really like the 3 smaller colours, black, grey and white, but to be honest the other colour isn't my colour at all, and something with a purple or pink hue would have been better for me. They are soft, but

I am an absolute disaster when it comes to false eyelashes. I have hardly ever managed to get them to stay on. I had the (semi)permanent lashes applied professionally last year, and as nice as they were, they left me with little stubby sparse lashes of my own when they all came out and I was less than impressed by that. Recently I saw a beauty expert saying to cut your false lashes into thirds if they wont stay on. I decided to give it a go, but having spent a small fortune over the years trying and failing I decided just to pick up a pair in Poundland and give it a try. Clearly I need more practice at application, but on the whole I'm pretty pleased. I'd say they look quite natural, just longer, exactly right for a day time look.

Today was a typical grey day here. I did the school run (no makeup, leggings, baggy t-shirt, Nike's, large sunglasses), and then came home, showered and did my makeup for a meeting in the city. Face Cream, Foundation, Concealer and Powder Eye Primer and Eyeshadow Under eye, eyeshadow, white eyeliner, brow pencil Mascara and highlighter and blusher Lipstick Face Done Hair pinned up, glasses on

My name is Valerie and I am a single Mum, over 30 and proud of it. I am also a woman who likes to make the best of what nature gave me to work with. In my teens I was plagued by spots, and in my twenties I was up to my elbows in nappies. Now I am a bit older I have the time and the money to spend on my appearance, and in particular, my makeup and beauty products. Don't get me wrong, I'm not adverse to trying out cheaper brands and mixing them with higher end products but what really matters to me most is, do they do what they claim they do, whether they cost £3 or £30. I hope I can help other women too, because with so much choice out there, I'm pretty sure we cant afford to try them all, so I'm relying on you the reader to tell me what you think yourself, and maybe point me towards things you want me try out. I also hope we can have fun along the way and discover some makeup magic. All the best Valerie