Walking in a beauty Wonderland has moved

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www.walkinginabeautywonderland.wordpress.com

So please do come and join us, we would love to have you

Much love

Rucksana xxx

Rucksana's March Favourites

March, the 3rd month of the lunar calendar and start of spring has come and gone..! We are now officially a third of the way through the year and edging ever so closer to the Olympics..!

Personally, march was pretty much s mixed bag for me..! I started the month on such s high, I met up with a gorgeous fellow blogger, was happy In my current job, got my old job back to start after Easter and went to a family wedding where I had a lovely time meeting up with family and then it ALL changed..!
I lost my job, which as I had managed to secure my old job back shouldnt bother me I hear you ask, but it was the way in which I was so callously told to go, that really upset me and had me in tears for days after..! But hey go, upwards and onwards and I'll be starting my new/old job once again, one where I know I'll be treated like an equal and know I'll enjoy very much so..!

In terms of makeup, this month I acquired many new products as you will have no doubt seen in my haul post and some of these products have made it into my march favourites..!

At the beginning of the month I attended a wedding where it was imperative I looked polished and my makeup lasted all day, I chose to wear a lot of my new purchases, but before the wedding I had tested to see of they would last the duration and only the where they brought out on that morning..! So without further ado, the products I was using during march..!!

Illamasqua Skin Base:

I acquired the Illamasqua Foundation, at the start of the month and pretty much used it non stop for about 3 weeks..! I got shade No. 10 and it is the perfect match my skin tone... the Foundation blends effortlessly and offers about medium coverage, but as it just seems to melt in to the skin, you are left with flawless yet  natural looking skin..! This lasts a good 8-10 hours, and is perfect for just an ordinary or even special occasions...!

I got the Face and Body, mid way through March and used this then replaced the skin base...! I got the shade c5 and again a perfect shade match for the NC35 skin...! Unlike the Skin Base, this is a very sheer foundation and doesn't offer alot of coverage, however due to the sheer nature of the foundation, it can be built to get more coverage..! what i really like about this foundation is that as it is water based, when it first goes onto the skin, it has a very cooling effect, like spritzing water on the face, and i personally love that feeling..!! Again i get about 8-10 hours wear from this foundation...!!

Sleek Shimmer Blush in Pomegranate, is my favourite blush of all time, and has been a staple in my makeup collection ever since i first purchased this back in 2010...!

Pomegranate, is a deep berry shaded blush, with a pink shimmer running through it. This blusher can look rather frightening at first glance, but please don't be put off. This is a universally flattering blush, it provides a beautiful flushed, colour to the cheeks, that looks incredibly natural. It reminds of that rosy glow you get when you have been out in the crisp bitter cold. I have pretty much used this, everyday for the last 2 years..!

Illamsqua's Morale Blusher, is very similar to Pomegranate, it has an almost identical base shade, that raspberry,which is very flattering...! Again like Pomegranate, it provides that rosy look to the cheeks, which looks so joyful and to me personally, beams happiness and contentedness with life..! I enjoyed using this blush  very much this month and am glad to have it in my possession...!!

Elf mineral booster in sheer, is my favourite powder of all time..I have been using this product for 3 years now and haven't deflected to anything else..! This is a finely milled powder, that offers the tiniest bit of coverage, so even if i am not wearing any makeup but need to leave i will dust this over my face to even out my skin..! I like that powder, doesn't leave my face looking flat, as it is a mineral powder..! 

Chanel Illusion d'ombre eye shadow in Illusoire, this is a beautiful purple toned eye shadow, with a very unusual texture, it is neither a cream nor a powder nor a mousse, but rather somewhere in between all of those..! It is incredibly shimmery.! This eye shadow has amazing staying power and is so easy to work with, it needs no primer and there is no threat of any fallout and blends like a dream..! Again this eye shadow works well for a work day or a special occasion and i have used for both purposes..! Illusoire is love in a pot..!

Illamasqua Static Pigment, has to be the the prettiest item of makeup i have ever owned...! This is a finely milled, pigment that can be used as an eye shadow on its own, on top of another eye shadow to add another dimension or as a cheek highlight, i have used as the latter for pretty the whole of march..! In the pan it just looks like a white glitter pretty simple..but concealed is a pink iridescence that i have never seen before..! It sparkles and gleams in the light and will make any makeup, boring neutral day makeup, or really smokey evening looks interesting...! 

Mac's Blacktrack fluidline, i have used this everyday since its purchase..! I love eyeliner and wouldn't be seen deadline without it..! After using the Maybelline until its demise, i went upmarket and got Blacktrack and what can i say, it is awesome..! It is opaque and densely pigmented, it glides on the eyelids without dragging and  sets, fairly quickly so there is no fear of smudging..! I also use this to line my water line and it lasts pretty much all day...!

Chanel Rouge coco in Gabrielle and Rouge Allure Velvet in L'exuberante...! The perfect lipsticks...! Gabrielle is semi matte and despite being a red, it is very low maintenance, as once it is on the lips it is staying on the lips...! It goes on pretty much opaque in one swipe..! It is very comfortable to wear..!

L'exuberante, is one of the Rouge Allure velvet's, and it completely matte,however it is very comfortable to wear and doesn't dry the lips out, like some matte lipsticks can do..! Again it is low maintenance as once this is on, it isn't budging..! I can get about 10 hours wear with this lipstick and that includes eating and drinking..! 

Loreal Rouge caress in Impulsive Fuchsia..! This is so pretty, it is a deep pink, with apparent blue undertones, it has the consistency of a lip balm, so perfect for people who don't like lipstick..! It is richly pigmented and goes on glossy, almost like a lipgloss..! however, after about an hour the glossiness wears off and it leaves behind, a very pretty magenta stain that lasts all day and doesn't transfer...!! What more can a girl ask for...!!

So there are my March favourite...! No doubt some of these products will be staying as firm favourites during the month of April, but maybe not...

R xxx

Rucksana Goes Shopping...!!!

Three weeks ago I met with the most charming, lovely gorgeous girl, and my BFF Sheenie, who is also one half of the very talented and one of my favourite blogs to read and lust over, Just Nice Things..!

After months of my persistent nagging, she agreed to meet with me,we had an absolutely amazing day, it was one of the best days I've had in  forever, and cannot wait to see her again, very very soon..! i feel like i have known her for all my life, we just clicked and soon as we met and i started to miss her as soon as we said goodbye..!

We met up in the Bull Ring in Birmingham, so we managed to squeeze in a very small amount of shopping, nothing to extravagant...

Illamasqua Morale Blusher, Skin Base Foundation and Pure Pigment in Static

A few days before Sheenie came to Birmingham, I told about some products that i wanted from Illamasqua, Sheenie, very kindly offered to get me these from London....! These are my very first Illamasqua Purchases but I love them, static pigment is serious hot stuff...!!

Chanel Lipsticks: Rouge Coco: No. 19 Gabrielle and Rouge Allure Velvet :  No.37  L'exuberante

Whlist shopping with Sheenie, I also picked up some Chanel, I got Rouge Coco in No.19, and a Rouge Allure velvet in L'exuberante, which despite being a matte finish is really comfortable to wear..!! 

Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Eyeshadow: Illusoire and Epatant

Staying with Chanel, I also picked up some of the new illusion d'ombre eyeshadow,which have a very unusual texture, they are neither a cream nor a powder and they have incredible staying power and are really easy to use...!

MAC: Florida creamblend blush, Girl About Town Lipstick, Blacktrack fluidline and Face and Body Foundation

We also went to the MAC freestanding store in Birmingham,which is hidden behind the House of Fraser for those of you wondering..!!

I picked up the new Florida cream-blend blush, which is out with the mac shop mac cook collection. I wanted girl about town lipstick and everytime i went into MAC it was never available, but finally i got my hands on it..!!

I needed a new gel liner and after asking Sheenie, which was the best gel liner on the market i picked up Blacktrack (and i love it)

I also got the Face and Body Foundation, which is a great sheer foundation and i think will be great to wear during the summer months where im always afraid of my foundation melting off my face..!

Urban Decay Eyeshadows: Last Call and Woodstock

I also picked up some single eye shadows from urban decay, i got Last call and Sheenie and I, both got woodstock, which is the most hottest pink eyeshadow i have ever seen, but i don't why it also called woodstock, because it does remind me off any woods...?

No.7 Vital Enlightening Highlighter Powder, Blossoming pink cream Blush and Blooming  Pink Cream Blush

Also, we brought the new No.7 highlighter which is absolutely beautiful and so pigmented..! I also went back and picked up the 2 cream blushers that are out in this collection and again i am very impressed with these products from no.7

Rimmel Traffic Stopping Shadow,  MEMEME seventh Heaven primer,  Famous by Sue Moxley shimmer shadow  3
MUA trio Pink Sorbet,  MUA pearl shadow 24, Bourjois Intense eyeshadow 10

I have also got, the new Rimmel trio eyeshadow in No parking, love the name of that..! The MEMEMe Seventh Heaven Face primer, is beautiful product, makes my makeup to stay put all day and smells divine. I picked up an eyeshadow from the Famous by Sue Moxley range, i have never tried anything from this brand before but eyeshadow number 3, is a beautiful unique shade, one that leans towards purple in some light and grey in others..

I got an MUA Trio in Pink Sorbet and Single eyeshadow in Pearl 24..!

These were all the things i picked up with Sheenie, we had an amazing amazing day and i am sad that it went by so quickly, i cannot wait to her again and hit the shops once again, this time in London..!!

Since then, I have also picked up a few more goodies...!

Loreal Rouge Caress, Impulsive Fuschia, Dating Coral, Sweet Berry, Rebel Red,  Aphrodite Scarlett
Cheeky magenta and Tempting Lilac and Lumi Magique Foundation

Loreal Have released a new Lip product called rouge caress, I got bit excited and somehow ended up with 7 of the shades,(I blame the 3 for 2 on loreal products) but they are lovely products, glossy and pigmented and what i love is that once the glossiness wears off, they leave a stain on the lips which lasts all day...

I also got the new foundation, which is a light foundation and leaves the skin looking natural and radiant...!!

17 Supreme shine Lipstick, Red Devil, If you please and Hot stuff

I picked up 3 of the new 17 supreme shine lipsticks, in Red Devil,If you please and Hot Stuff...If you please is a very good dupe of girl about town from MAC..!

Collection 2000 multiplier mascara and extreme felt liner pen

Collection 2000 have released a new mascara, and as a promotion were giving away the extreme felt liner for free, on first impressions the mascara seems to do what it says but im not a huge fan of the brush..!!

The eyeliner i have used before and know is fantastic..

Maybelline colour tattoos,  on and on bronze, eternal gold, immortal charcoal, endless purple
and permanent taupe

Maybelline colour tattoos have finally hit the British isles..!! Currently available in Superdrug for 4.99 and on a 3 for 2, i picked up 5 of the 6 and i have to say that i am impressed..! I wore immortal charcoal to a wedding last week and it lasted about 8 hours before i finally removed it and there was no creasing or fading..!! I cannot wait to try the Taupe as it is a very pretty unique color..!!!

So there you have my tiny, inexpensive haul...!!!

R xxx

Rucksana Reviews.....MAC Painterly Paintpot

Where has the time gone, I apolgise for my hiatus but I've been somewhat busy and time has ran away from me.

Today, I am going to review MAC's Painterly paintpot.

I purchased Painterly in December 2009, I bought it from the MAC counter in Selfridges in Birmingham's Bull Ring.

This was my very first paintpot, and initially I wanted Bare Study, but on the day it was out of stock so after some gentle persuasion from the sales assistant I ended up with Painterly.

I won't lie to you when I got it home and played around with it I hated it, I felt it didn't blend well, my eyeshadow didn't sit nicely and so after a couple of uses it was relegated to the bottom of my makeup drawer and forgotten about.

However, it wasn't until a few months ago when the gorgeous Cami from Camiloveskiwi, mentioned Painterly in one of her videos that got me thinking about my unloved, neglected paintpot, so I decided to to dig it out and see how I felt about it.

I wore it under Bourjois's intense eyeshadow in number 1, and lo and behold I fell in love with it.
I applied a thin layer of it and it held the eyeshadow in place for well over 12 hours. The eyeshadow blended well over it and due to the matte, creamy texture of the paintpot, it grabbed onto the shadow, so it was true to colour and didn't alter it (which I feel Bare Study can sometimes do).

Painterly is packaged in a glass/glass substitute jar with a black lid. The packaging for the paintpot is pretty ubiquitous, if you are familiar with the brand you will know the packaging from their other products such as fluidlines, chromilines and concealers. If you have other MAC products that are packaged in similiar jars then finding what you are looking can be bit of a hassle. I think MAC, should change the packaging so it is easily distinguishable from others.

The lid has to be screwed on tight otherwise the product wil dry out, again a bit of a packaging flaw..

The product lasts a good 12/16 hours on me, I never got any creasing or fading, however how long it will hold eyeshadow in place will very much depend on your skin type. I have dry skin and don't have much of an issue with eyeshadow once I have used a primer, it will then lash until I chose yo remove it.

The longevity of the product itself depends on how well you store it. I have had mind for nearly 2 years and it is still in perfect condition, if you screw the lid in tighly and store it upside down You should be able to extend the life of it.

Painterly, along with other paintpots is avaliable from most MAC counters, stores and online. It is priced at £13.50

The product Is a creamy matte, eyeshadow, that can be used under eyeshadow to act as a primer, it is flesh toned in colour. It cancels out any pigmentation in the lids so you can a blank canvas upon which you can apply eyeshadow over. However, if you have very apparent yellow undertones then you may want to opt for something like soft ochre of groundwork, as Painterly may look ashy on you

It grabs hold of the shadow, without changing the texture or colur so it will appear true to pan form. In addition if you have a eyeshadow with poor pigmentation, then the creamy texture of it will grab the eyeshadow so it gives the illusion of extra pigmentation.

I am really impressed with this, after disappointing first impressions, I have grown to love and it has superseded, my Bare Study and Urban Decays primer potion. I am really happy I have it another chance ( something I dont often do) and it has now become my go to primer. I will no doubt repurchase this again.

I award if 4/5

Iphone :)

I have got my new phone, the iphone 3gs..

It had taken nearly 3 weeks and endless phone calls to 3 but finally its arrived.

Im hoping to blog using the blogger app and also take better qualities so watch out for them...


R xxx

The A to Z of me

I've seen this tag on many blogs and I really like it, so i'm borrowing it for mine, it will be a nice way of you getting to know a little about myself, so here goes :)

Age: 22 although I will be 23 on the 13th of October!! Can't wait!!

Bed: Double, I love my bed, I would gladly spend most of my life in there, its incredibly comfortable and warm!!!

Chore: Erm, where do I start, vacuuming, changing the bed sheets, in fact i loathe that the most, washing dishes....

Dogs: I hate dogs, if i see one on the road, i cross the road, so i don't have to walk past it, if one walks past me, i scream like a kid...

Essential start to the day: Washing my face, brushing my teeth and combing my hair, and getting changed...These are a must, i'm not one for spending the day in my pyjama's, no matter how comfy they are, i cannot look like a tramp even if i no plans for the day, i have to at least look presentable..

Favourite colour: Pink and White..

Gold or Silver: I like both, so am not fussed, my favourite ever earrings are gold and my favourite ever ring is Silver, so i fall under both camps!!!

Height: 5'6, i think, although im pretty sure i may have grown a tiny bit since I last measured, although it may just wishful thinking...

Instrument you play: None...

Job: Student...

Kids: None and at this moment in time, i don't want any...

Live: Birmingham, United Kingdom!!!

Mother's Name: Mom!

Nicknames: Rucks, Roxy...most  people just tend to call me Rucksana though!!

Overnight Hospital Stay: Once, in August 2004...

Pet Peeves: Okay where to start, drivers, who don't indicate on roundabouts, im not a mind reader that i know where your going. Drivers who drive too close to me, people who park in others parking places (we have a garage, where i park outside, but sometimes people park there) People who block others driveway's, rude, jealous people....i could go on and on but lets move on...

Quote from a movie: YABBBA DABBBA DOO, okay technically The Flintstones where a cartoon, but in my defence there were a couple of Flintstone movies

Right or left handed: Right Handed

Siblings: One older brother, who is 12 years older than me..

Time you wake: I don't really have a fixed time when i awake, but usually im awake by 10.30/11.00, however there is not really a fixed time...just called me lazy chops

Underwear: Erm, somethings a lady shouldn't share with the world...

Vegetables you hate: Cauliflower

What makes you run late: nothing really, i fear being late for something, so if i have to be somewhere, or have an appointment im usually there, half an hour early

X-Rays- Chest X-ray, once.

Yummy foods you make: Samosa's, Chicken Biryani..

Zoo Animal: Lion and Tigers, so cute!!

Rucksana Review's.....Penny Vincenzi's An Absolute Scandal

I promised a book review, so here it is...

The book I am reviewing is Penny Vincenzi's "An Absolute Scandal"








I first stumbled upon this book in the now defunct Border (RIP, I loved that shop and still mourn it's loss) and i picked this up a couple of times, but always got distracted by something, and so Penny Vincenzi and her books remained unexplored and unloved bu myself!!!

It wasn't until April 2010, when i purchased another one of Vincenzi's book, The Best of Times, it took me forever to read it and i wasn't too impressed, but nevertheless i decided to read a few more of her books to see if they were an improvement. After The Best of Times, i read a further 2 and I was blown away by how good they were and so i decided to read An Absolute Scandal...

An Absolute Scandal is long, at nearly 900 pages long, and to read this book you would need alot of free time, it took me nearly nearly 3 weeks to read it from start to finish, never has it taken me so long to read a book before, but alas I enjoyed it very much and don' regret a minute of it...

The book set in the 1980's and 1990's is based around the scandal of Lloyds of London Scandal and how it affected some of the "names".  Now i had never heard of the scandal as it happened in 1988 which was the year i was born in (my birthday is just over 2 weeks away eeeeekkkkk).

The book focuses on 3 family's who are affected by the scandal, The Beaumont's, The Fielding's and The Cowper's. The story tells of who Lloyd's start demanding money from the "names" and how the sum increases yearly leading to the financial ruin of Lloyd's of London names. People who are extremely rich are forced into ruin, wrecking working and family relationships.

The book starts with a prologue, which is a very clever way of drawing the reader in, the prologue begins with a tragedy, a death of one of the main protagonists of the story but Vincenzi, does a very good job  of keeping the deceased a secret.

The story is well written and easy to follow, it is told from the point of view of the main characters and Vincenzi does a good job of forging relationships between the characters, who at the beginning are total strangers living in different parts of the country. In addition to focusing on the Lloyd's scandal, there are also sub plots based around others people of the affected families, some of these are a little wishy washy and pointless however they all come together pretty well as the book heads into the conclusion...

As a reader I found i went through many emotions whilst reading this, happiness and sadness, there were also many laugh out loud moments.

Personally i really really enjoyed reading book, and I am going to say that it was probably one of the best books i have read all year. I loved it so much that I want to read it all over again

Since then i have Purchased the rest of Vincenzi's book and look forwarding to reading them.

I award this book a 4.5 out of 5