Stratford spa afternoon

Yesterday, Charlotte and I went on a complimentary spa afternoon at Regal Hair and Beauty, Stratford-upon-Avon. We had seen the offer advertised on the internet and didn't quite know what to expect - but we were overwhelmed.

The venue was lovely and the staff made sure we felt welcomed and comfortable from the moment we arrived.

We then got to choose a treatment each and opted for a facial and pedicure. The treatment room was very professional and the staff there made the experience even more worth-while. After having our treatments, we got a full makeover, including having our hair done.

We both thoroughly enjoyed this part of the afternoon. The beautician was amazing, asking us about our usual make-up style, in addition to offering suggestions about what she thought would work, in order to create a glamorous look that we also felt comfortable with.

She also put loose curls in our hair, to add something a bit different, ready for the next part of our afternoon.

The photoshoot was fantastic. The wonderful photographer spoke to us about our outfits and helped us decide what to wear in each part of the shoot. We both had such a laugh and felt very comfortable when having our photos taken. For both of us, this was our favourite part of the day.

We then finished the day with a glass of bubbly and bite to eat, while we browsed through the photos. 

I would definitely recommend Regal Hair and Beauty for a perfect afternoon out.

http://www.regalhairandbeauty.co.uk

The test: Chisel Cheeks Contour Kit

From J-Lo to Pixie Lott, Taylor Swift to Millie Mackintosh, contouring is everywhere at the moment. But can good contouring be done on a budget? I purchased this Barry M contour kit to try out the latest trend - and to see if contouring can still look good without breaking the bank.

I started by applying just a thin layer of my every-day foundation. You can either contour underneath or on top of foundation and I found this set works better on top. The easy-to-follow steps inside the kit make it so easy to contour the right shade in the right place. However, you only need a tiny bit of the creme on your brush/sponge - it goes a long way!

This was half way through putting on the creme, I'd only done half my face! It is easier to put it all on first, and then blend, so you can see what you have done and make it symmetrical on both sides. You can add more once you have blended, to get your desired look.

After blending and adding a bit more, I was more than happy with how it looked. The creme is really good and gives you a lovely golden glow, perfect for summer and nights out. The only small downside would be that for my skin, the highlighter is a little too dark, but adding concealer sorted this out.

I then added bronzer onto my cheeks and mattifying powder onto the highlighted sections.

For only £6.49, I definitely achieved the look I was hoping to and would recommend this product to anyone looking for a budget, good quality contour set!

     

Face

Foundation: No.7 Beautifully Matte

Concealer: Rimmel Hide the Blemish

Contour: Barry M Chisel Cheeks Contour kit

Powder: Maybelline Matte Maker 

Bronzer: Soap and Glory Peach Party

Eyes

Brows: Rimmel Eyebrow Pencil in black/brown

Eye liner: Soap and Glory Supercat

Mascara: MAC Studio Fix Boldblack Lash

Lips

Liner: Rimmel Exaggerate in 'Eastend Snob'

Lipstick: Smashbox Be Legendary in 'Primrose'