The Eye Shadow Junkie TAG…

Howdy Chums…

I thought I’d mix things up a bit and try something a little fun for this weeks YouTube chatter as I rummage through my hoards of eye shadow pots & palettes to discuss some of my most cherished purchases… and with the lovely Traci Anne from Traci Anne Loves nominating me to jump on the bandwagon with this rather fabulous tag, what a better opportunity to take a nosey through my cosmetic drawers?!

Being ever-so-slightly obsessed with eye shadows (they’re probably my top beauty splurge) I was struggling for choice when it came to making my final edits! Too much choice is never a good thing, or is it gals? 😉 However, like any brave beauty blogger, I prevailed and finally concocted my list of showcase shadows for her questions… along with a few swatches and bargain finds thrown in for good measure.

So if you’re looking for a way to procrastinate for a few minutes then why not get yourself comfy – you might wanna grab a cuppa for this one ladies! Oh, and don’t forget your wishlist… just incase there’s a few items you need to jot down along the way 😉

As always, thanks so much for watching & don’t forget if you want to jump right in and take part then check out the questions under the description box on YouTube. You don’t have to have a channel to take part, you can always make it a fun feature on your blog! Why not eh?

Cheerio chums…

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Catch me on:

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Keeping Up With Karen…

Regardless how organised I am, every year it never ceases to amaze me how I always tend to find myself composing an exhaustive list a few weeks before the big day – even when I have myself CONVINCED beyond reason that everything is sorted. Have we a hidden stash of various batteries for Emma’s toys? What about crackers for the table? Oh and don’t forget a table cloth – has to be gold, gold’s the theme this year!! *chews on lip for fear of missing something else* Ahhhh, that’s it… DISPOSABLE NIBBLE TRAYS!!!

Yesterday I closed the laptop spent the entire day avoiding all thoughts of what’s on my to do list but instead made pizzas & watched Jurassic World with Ems & Steve. It was glorious. Not a string of tinsel or toy advert in sight. I can’t help thinking that at times the pressure we place on ourselves at Christmas is so overbearing it can zap the fun straight out of it. Forget the endless TV ad’s highlighting the latest 48″ Star Wars action figure or Beach House Barbie… just sitting around watching a whole load of dinosaurs causing carnage whilst nibbling on a Hawaiian thin crust with the family is a nice break from the constant reminders of an endless to do list. Don’t get me wrong I’m all for celebrating the festivities, but occasionally it can be a little too easy to forget the reason for the season. Stress less, enjoy more & be grateful for what we’ve already got, right? ❤

So for those of you who aren’t rushing around a shopping mall today but deciding to take a weekend off from the mayhem of planning etc. Here’s a quick recap of what fun shenanigans have been featuring on Confetti & Curves this past week.

Disclaimer: lots of sparkle & cheesy seasonal references ahead, you have been warned!!!

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Christmas Make-Up Menu Featuring MAC Ruby Woo

Tis the season to paint your face in the most glam and glitziest of make-up choices. In Monday’s post I recap my favourite look of the holiday’s using a range of stunning shades from the original Urban Decay NAKED palette and MAC’s iconic Ruby Woo *swoon*

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Behind The Blog featuring Beautiful New Chapter

Time to plump up the cushions on the virtual sofa of sassiness as the gorgeous Mishale from Beautiful New Chapter joins us for a quick chatter about her blossoming beauty & lifestyle blog! Talking of beautiful new chapter’s, we also launched an updated series image… waddya think chums? Don’t forget to pop over and say a huge hello to the lovely Mishale 🙂

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My Make Up & Beauty Storage Tour

After what seemed like a monumental clear out it was finally time I got round to chatting about my beauty area, where all the cosmetic creativity happens! Can you also tell I’m a fan of Ikea? Hmmm, just a bit eh?! Don’t forget to visit the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel & hit the subscribe button so you never miss an upload!!

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Behind The Blog featuring Emma from Toast O Clock

Our second blogger of the week is the adorable Emma from Toast O Clock. Hailing a little closer to home it’s such a treat introducing this gorgeous gal’s budding blog that’s packed full of great features & Emma’s charming personality. Be sure to follow so you don’t miss out on her future posts!

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Planning The Perfect Girls Night Out

Christmas gatherings & cheesy office parties galore is what’s dominating the diaries over the next few weeks so why not check out my top tips to a great night out on the town? Are you ready for a glamorous evening on the dance floor with the gals? I sure am!

As always, thank y’all so very much for the abundance of support, comments, re-tweets, shares, likes & just darn right loveliness. You lot really are an awesome bunch. Do feel free to pop a favourite link from your blog in the comments below for the rest of us to check out, otherwise don’t forget to say a quick hello!

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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Christmas Make Up Menu featuring MAC Ruby Woo…

 

Christmas parties, office shindigs, glitzy night on the town… this time of year always has us dressing up in our sparkliest outfits and stepping out in our most glamorous make-up looks. In my opinion there’s nothing more Christmassy than a classic red lip teamed up with a sprinkling of gold & glitter – and so to keep the Christmas party cheer, I’ve created a bit of a glitzy look this week! If you’d like to watch the tutorial on how to recreate this look then just *Click Here* to be whisked off to the Confetti & Curves YouTube channel where you can hit the subscribe button so you won’t miss any future videos! *woo hoo*

So here’s a quick peek at the menu used to create my favourite Christmas make up look…

MUA Pro Eye Primer

Urban Decay NAKED Palette:

Crease – Buck

All over lid – Half Baked

Outer Crease – Hustle

Under Eye – Half Baked

Collection Glam Crystal Liquid Liner: Funk 03

Model & Co Volume Eyes Mascara: Black

Barry M Brow Kit

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Boots No 7 Beautifully Matte: Vanilla

Maybelline 24 HR Concealer: Fair

Soap & Glory Kick Ass Concealer: Fair (this is simply to edge the brow with)

Sleek Face Form Contour Kit: Fair

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MUA Lip Liner: Red Drama

MAC Matte in Ruby Woo *swooooooon*

Lipcote Lipstick Sealer *click here* to find out every lipstick lover NEEDS this in their collection

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There you have it gals, my favourite festive look! Will you be stepping out in style this Christmas? Any parties planned? Whatever your thoughts don’t forget to say a quick hello in the comments below!

Cheerio chums…

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Catch me on:

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Christmas Party Make-up…

Howdy y’all,

Yep, I know – not my normal upload day ladies however as previously mentioned here’s a little extra helping of Confetti & Curves this week as the gorgeous Clarina & myself have got together to showcase our favourite Christmas Party Make-up looks! Excited for the seasonal shenanigans to commence? We sure are!

Don’t forget to check out Clarins’s Blog & YouTube channel, if you’re a cosmetic craver then you’ll be sure to feel right at home – this gal loves her beauty stash!

What’s your favourite look of the season? Are you all for a bit of sparkle or prefer to keep it more low key & classic? Whatever your thoughts we’d love to hear from you. Thanks so much for watching!

Cheerio chums…

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Catch me on:

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How To Blend Your Eye Shadow Like A Pro…

Having recently posted a number of my favourite make-up looks a few of you lovely ladies lavished me with some rather blush-inducing compliments on my blending skills and very kindly requested a run through of my how I create my eye looks. Never one to disappoint, who I am to turn down the opportunity of a fun tutorial, right gals? 😉

Okay, so some of you might remember in my last spree I picked up this interesting looking little goodie! It’s the Work The Colour palette from Collection in the Shade Purple. Yep, most definitely keeping it simple over in the naming department of Collection HQ…

  

Being a huuuuge fan of these stunning tones I couldn’t resist the treat, and at a mere £3.99 it happily made it’s way into my guilt-free shopping basket. Considering that the colours are soft, easy to blend, produce impressive pigmentation & are surprisingly long lasting, it seemed a perfect choice for using in today’s feature. Best of all it has a rather helpful little step-by-step tutorial on the back for those that feel more confident having a little bit of guidance close to hand.

Let’s get blending ladies…

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Starting with a completely naked face *Ooo Err* it’s time to load the lids up with my favourite primer. I’m a huge fan of the Urban Decay Primer Potion which helps my shadow from creasing and keeps the colours looking vibrant throughout the day… & well into the night I must add too. Creating your eye-shadow look before applying foundation is a great way to avoid any fall out or messy mishaps in advance.

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In order to give my shadow a clean, airbrushed look I place a small amount of tape either side’s of my eyes. Before applying the tape I always tend to dab the sticky side on the back of my hand a few times so it’s not too painful or dramatic when it comes to removing later in the process. Whatever you do just make sure you avoid covering your bottom lashes so as you don’t give yourself and unexpected waxing – ouch!

I usually keep this mini tape dispenser in my shadow drawer so it’s always close to hand. I tend to find the semi opaque magic tape works the best. Surgical tape is also ideal which can be picked up in pretty much any supermarket or local drug store!

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The great thing about this little palette is how easy peasy they’ve made it to follow. Whether you’re a newbie to blending or simply just wanting to experiment with new shades, it’s literally as simple as 1,2,3.

  

1) I start off by applying a generous amount of the lightest shadow (No 1) all over the lid, taking it slightly up past the crease and working it towards the outer corner of the eye where the tape is.

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2) Using a clean brush, begin applying the medium colour (No 2) on the middle of your lid & blend it softly out toward the edge of the tape. I find using a slightly stiffer brush and patting it down helps to build a pop of colour, especially when applying lilac or soft grey which can often seem a bit weak in pigmentation. Remember, adding layers is always better than piling on huge amounts so gently does it!

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Finally it’s time to add the darkest shade to the outer crease in order to add a sassy sprinkling of depth & definition. I tend to prefer using a small fluffy brush for this step as it blends the colour out a little more softly. Once again start off with a small amount and build until you have the depth of tone you require.

Once you’re done SLOWLY remove the tape to reveal a beautifully sharp shadow line! If you notice any shadow fall out on your cheeks then simply use a wet wipe to remove & you’re ready to move on to the next stage

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Once you’ve finally applied the remainder of your make-up (face, lips & brows) it’s then back to the eyes for some highlighting. For those that prefer a little less sparkle the highlighter in this palette is a soft concealer consistency as opposed to a sparkly powder so you’re at minimal risk of resembling a disco ball. I tend to prefer using a small flat brush that is easy to run along the edges of the brow including the inner corner. This adds a lovely little pop of brightness to help bring out the colour of your eyes.

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Once your done all’s left is to add the finishing touches. As I’ve already applied my Rimmel Glam Eye’s Professional Liquid Liner my last step is to add some mascara. For this I’m using one of my current favourites, Max Factor False Effect – two coats and I’m ready to go!

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What’s a favourite step in your make-up routine? Have you a favourite brand of shadows you adore dressing your lids with? Or have you any shadow application tips you’d like to share? Whatever your thoughts I’d love to read them in the comments below. As always thanks so much for stopping by 🙂

Cheerio chums…

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Catch me on:

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Favourite Fall Look Featuring Urban Decay…

Greetings Beauty Buddies…

If there’s one thing I love (almost as much as fall) it’s getting glammed up using one of my highly treasured Urban Decay NAKED palettes. So when the gorgeous Stephanie Mora from Stephie Estie graced my inbox with a rather exciting email inviting me to take part in a fun filled collaboration (with a few other awesome blog buddies) to showcase my favourite fall look using one of my Urban Decay NAKED palettes I jumped at the chance! Of course as you all know by know, with Wednesday being my YouTube upload day what better way to show y’all my fav fall look than by rustling up a chatty tutorial! Taa daa!

Apart from the luscious packaging, super pigmentation & long lasting power of these incredible eye shadow palettes, the colour range they contain is very much swoon worthy in my humble opinion. If you don’t already have a NAKED palette in your ever-expanding cosmetic collection I cannot recommend saving your hard earned pennies & treating yourself to a high end spend on literally any of the their range. You’ll not regret it for one moment ladies… brownie promise!!

Don’t forget to check out these lovely ladies blogs as well. All are due to feature their own favourite looks today so keep your peepers peeled for:

Stephie Estie

My personal skin care guru who is forever blessing me with her infinite pearls of cosmetic wisdom… plus, she’s one of the nicest bloggers around! What a gal 🙂

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Hello Kaily

Wonderfully witty & a whiz with a liquid liner wand! Also one of my fav YouTubers… don’t forget to check out her channel to avoid missing out on all the crazy Kaily action!

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In The Beauty Box

The gorgeous Jen from NYC… one of my favourite cosmetic cravers with a blog that’s bunged full of goodies guaranteed to bump up your wishlist!

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Jan & Jot

If your a lover of all things beauty related then Janet & Josie’s blog is right up your street! Packed full of beauty must-haves and fabulous reviews, I’m pretty certain you’ll fall head over heels for their virtual beauty haven!

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Thanks again to the lovely Stephanie & I do hope you guys enjoy all the looks featured in our fun fall collab!

Are you the proud owner of a NAKED Palette? What one’s your fav? Or, are any of them a firm fixture on top of your wishlist?

Whatever your thoughts do stop by and say a quick hello in the comments below… it’s always a treat chatting to y’all 🙂

Cheerio Chums…

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Catch me on:

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Urban Decay Naked 3 Tutorial & Max Factor Mega Wild First Impressions…

Hey Beauty Buddies…

As so many of you lovely ladies have taken the time to leave such flattering comments about my eye make-up in some of my previous videos and piccies I thought it was high time I shared this easy-peasy everyday eye look with you guys… so here it is gals, my very first tutorial using one of my all time favourite eye shadow palettes – the gorgeous Urban Decay Naked 3 palette.

Of course you don’t (just) need a Naked 3 palette to complete this transformation – with a range of trendy dupes on the market such as the W7 In The Nude palette you can give it a go for a fraction of the price!

Don’t forget to check out my first impressions on the Max Factor Mega Wild Mascara too, what’s your thoughts on it? 😉

Hope y’all enjoy, cheerio chums…

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Catch me on:

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Keeping Up With Karen…

Hey Blog Buddies…

This weekend the sun has been splitting the trees. Every where you go there’s a waft of sun lotion & barbecue smoke… listen closely enough and you can even hear the gentle sound of flip-flops paired with those little battery operated handy fan’s – you know, the type your nan used to pull out of her handbag & waft around. Yep, summer seems to have crept in nicely as the masses slowly turn fifty shades of pink – yet here I am perched below a giant Ikea parasol resembling an extra from a Twilight movie… damn you pale Irish skin!!

However, if you’ve been out topping up your tan this past few days & fancy a quick catch up on this week’s features then look no further. As always, don’t forget to share a link in the comments below to a favourite post on YOUR blog so we can pop over & check it out 😉

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Weekend Make-Up Menu

Check out my Saturday morning make-up routine & what goodies I’m using right now!

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Behind The Blog featuring Megan Leigh Stringer

This Tuesday’s Behind The Blog was courtesy of the gorgeous Megan Leigh Stringer. If you’re mad about make-up & hauls make you ‘happy-dance’ then I’m pretty sure you’ll adore her blog. Don’t forget to pop over & say hi, she’s super lovely!

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The Beauty Bargain Bag Reveal

Quite a few of you lovely lot were just as impressed as I was with these mystery goodies I revealed in this weeks YouTube chatter. If you haven’t indulged already then check out my stash of over £25 worth of cosmetics I picked up for pocket money! Result 😉

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Behind The Blog featuring Sshhbeauty

Thursday’s blogger was the uber talented Sshhbeauty joining me on the virtual sofa of sassiness 😀 Don’t forget to pop over and say hi – if you’re a cosmetic craver (like moi) then you’ll have plenty to feast your eager eye’s upon!

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Trash Or Treasure: Rimmel’s Sun Shimmer Maxi Bronzer Review

Fancy a bronzed glow this summer? Then check out my review of Rimmel’s huuuuge Maxi Bronzer compact… and also where to find it for a whopping 75% off the RRP!! You’re welcome ladies 😉

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As always, thank y’all soooooo much for the support, comments, encouragement & just darn right loveliness. You’s guys really know how to brighten a bloggers day!

As I mentioned above, do feel free to post a favourite link from your blog this week in the comments below so we can take a virtual trip over to check it out. Otherwise don’t forget to say a quick hello 🙂

Cheerio chums…

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PS: HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE CONFETTI & CURVES GIVEAWAY YET? *CLICK HERE* TO FIND OUT HOW YOU COULD WIN AN URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE OF YOUR CHOICE!

Weekend Make-Up Menu…

One of the MANY things I love about the weekend is the ability to get ready at my own pace. Saturday morning is my time to pamper, preen and play with the new makeup purchases I’ve treated myself to over the previous week… this Saturday was no exception! With no alarm in ear shot, I padded down stairs at 9:30 am (an utter treat than the usual 5 am start), re-fuelled on poached eggs & sipped on a cup of sweet tea before heading back to the boudoir for a looooong hot shower & rummage through my makeup collection! Here’s the menu ladies…

Fresh & Prep

 

Simple Micellar Water: My freshly showered face may be squeaky clean but a quick wipe with this removes any left over residue. It’s also super kind to my very sensitive skin & packed full of great nourishing vitamins.

Olay Toner: This is undoubtedly my favourite skincare product of all time. It pulls a multitude of grimy sins deep from the pores and leaves your face feeling sparkly clean & toned… not to mention the aaaahhmazing scent.

Lush Lip Scrub: Does exactly what it says on the tin teeny jar. This yummy tasting scrub is great for removing a nasty build-up of dead skin… leaving your lips feeling pucker perfect!

W7 Lip Bomb: Considering I’m a self confessed balm-addict I always have a multitude of products to reach for but NONE as moisturising and long lasting as this little egg of excellence. Seemingly a dupe for the EOS range I’d highly recommend you try this gals – your lips with love you for it!

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Face

 

No 7 Beautifully Matte Foundation: Saturday was my first day using this foundation which is specifically designed for full coverage on oily complexions. I’m pretty new to the party when it comes to trying the No 7 range so I’ll keep you all posted on how it transpires with a future updated review ladies… so far so good 😉

Real Techniques Stippling Brush: Okay so it’s not an actually product but this pretty little wonder-brush deserves a gracious shout out. If you’re desperate for an airbrushed finish this will more than happily accommodate. It’s an essential for any make-up maven!

Rimmel Sunkissed Bronzer: Not only do I adore swirling my Real Techniques blusher brush in the GINORMOUS casing, the pay off of this bronzer is beautiful. It’s not too harsh for my pale skin and is totally buildable for a warm and dazzling glow.

Bourjois Cream Blush in Rose Tender: This simply adds a subtle pop of pink on the apples of my cheeks giving a fresh and dewy finish to the look. I LOVE IT!

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Eyes

Barry M Shape & Define Brow Kit: This gorgeous little brow kit recently featured in my monthly favourites *click here to watch* and since investing a mere £5 on it from Superdrug I’ve been blown away by the difference it’s made to my brow-scape. It shapes, defines and darkens any patchy areas leaving your brows looking HD ready!

Urban Decay NAKED 3 Palette: C’mon, who doesn’t adore this amazing selection of rose tinted shadows?! Okay, it may be a tad on the pricey side (rrp £38) but it’s well worth the investment. Oh, and don’t forget to enter my Giveaway comp where you could win your choice of NAKED palette *click here* for more info!

Rimmel Glam Eyes: I love this liquid liner however the tiny little applicator really does take a major steady hand to master! Considering I was all out of my usual fav (MUA Liquid Liner) I have to say I’m a total Rimmel convert.

Model & Co Mascara: The latest copy of Glamour Mag is out ladies & not only is it a special price issue (a mere £1) but it also comes with a complimentary choice of either Eye Liner, Mascara or Lip Gloss from Model Co cosmetics. The mascara won hands down and I have to say (for a freebie) it’s really rather impressive! Whad’ya think ladies?

Eyelash Curlers: Even though my lashes REFUSE point blankly to hold a curl 99% of the time, it still doesn’t stop me from incorporating my curlers as part of my eye décor routine. Okay so they aren’t the most lavish set however I’m holding out for a set of Shu Uemura’s *sigh*

Urban Decay Primer: Considering my NAKED 3 palette was purchased at Christmas I’m aghast there’s any product in the complimentary primer pods left… you need so little of the stuff it lasts for ages! Today I’m wearing ‘SIN’, a shimmery formula that will keep the shadow blend looking fresh & totally crease free.

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Lips

 

Tanya Burr Lip Gloss in Picnic In The Park: Seeing as most of today’s look focuses around the eyes I though I’d keep the lips simple with a wash of Tanya’s gorgeous gloss in this soft nude-pink tone.

W7 Lip Bomb: Before I apply any gloss I usually add a little swipe of this balm, I find it helps the longevity of the gloss and enhances the overall look!

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Taa-daa

 

Yep, the weekend transformation is complete – now to enjoy the rest of the day. Shopping anyone?

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Do you look forward to a Weekend ritual? Have you used any of the products above? Whatever your thoughts do feel free to leave them in the comments below… we do love a juicy beauty chatter here on Confetti & Curves! Happy Monday chums 🙂

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PS: HAVE YOU CHECKED OUT THE CONFETTI & CURVES GIVEAWAY YET? *CLICK HERE* TO FIND OUT HOW YOU COULD WIN AN URBAN DECAY NAKED PALETTE OF YOUR CHOICE!

Keeping Up With Karen…

Hey Beauty Buddies…

It’s been a ridiculously busy week here at Confetti & Curves HQ… so much so that I’m waaaayyyy behind on catching up with quite a few of your awesome posts! Thankfully though I’m way ahead of schedule after spending all day yesterday happily writing away for next weeks fun features. It feels soooo good to be *almost* organised again 😀 So today I’m catching up with some of my emails, YouTube videos, editing & (of course) reading blogs. So if you have a fav post this week on your blog please feel free to share the link below! However, here’s what’s been happening with Confetti & Curves over the last 7 days…

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Urban Decay NAKED Palette Giveaway

As a celebration for reaching 1000 followers I’ve decided to treat the readers to a bit of a special Giveaway! Yes, you could be the winner of one of these gorgeous palettes so click on the link for further info on how to enter… if you’re not in you can’t win 😉

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Behind The Blog featuring Alice from Strange Made Me

I catch up with the lovely Alice on the virtual sofa of sassiness to get to know a little bit more about her and her gorgeous blog! Don’t forget to stop by and say a quick hello, she’s such an awesome gal ❤

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May Favourites

In this weeks video I show you my most used goodies of May! Have you tried any of them yet?

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Behind The Blog featuring Lara from Fly Me To The Clouds

Check out the lovely Lara’s fun filled interview as she chats about bloggers block, her current beauty favs & sooo much more! Don’t forget to stop by her blog & check it out – you’ll love it & her!

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First Impressions: MAC False Lashes Extreme Black 

Check out my review of the latest MAC mascara everyone’s talking about… is it really worth the hype?!

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As always, thank y’all from the bottom of my heart for the support, comments, encouragement, re-blogs & just darn right loveliness. You’s guys really know how to brighten a bloggers day!

As I mentioned above, do feel free to post a favourite link from your blog this week in the comments below so we can take a virtual trip over to check it out. Otherwise don’t forget to say a quick hello 🙂

Cheerio chums…