1 YEAR OF BLOGGING

Source - Tumblr

Well here we are, elwillmer.blogspot.co.uk's first birthday! I can't quite believe it myself, and can't believe I've managed to keep it going this long!! My 100th post is also coming up soon.

I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who follows, reads or generally keeps updated with my blog. Whether you've been here from the beginning or have only just joined, thank you so much for being here for me! I have met so many lovely and fantastic people from doing my blog, the blogging community is so positive and I love it. 

So thank you all again for being part of my very exciting journey and I can't wait for many more years to come!

Love El
xxx

Urban Decay - Naked 3 Palette Tutorial 1

Another makeup tutorial for today's post, and this tutorial is part 1 of 2! I have 2 very different looks to share with you, both created with the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette.

This look, I personally think, defines the eyes beautifully as their is almost a cut crease look about it. I also feel it makes my eyes look much bigger. It is certainly a glamorous look and that's why I wanted to add some liquid liner!

First I applied the shadow "Dust" all over my lid, which was then followed by applying "Factory" through my crease and outer corner. I took the shade "Factory" quite high up so when I applied "Blackheart" you could see the transition. After that I just made sure I blended everything together for a seamless look, and then to open up my eyes I used "Strange" as a inner corner highlight. 

Then to finish off I used some mascara and liner.

P.s. please ignore my eyebrows, they look so awful in these pictures but I have sorted them out since!

Love El
xxx

Week In Photos - Cornwall Edition

I have always wanted to do a "Week In Photos" post but have never been sure what pictures to take or if my weeks are actually interesting enough, so seen as I have been in Cornwall for the past week I thought it would be the perfect opportunity!

If you have read previous posts from me you may know I am obsessed with Cornwall and have been going since before I was one. This past week me and my family stayed in a gorgeous self catering bungalow in Padstow and here are the photos from last week.

Also be sure to follow me on Instagram as I will be posting different images on there! 

Follow me HERE.

Looking across the Estuary to Rock from Padstow

Port Isaac 

Trelissick, National Trust

St Mawes 

Padstow Harbour

Boscastle 

Again be sure to follow me on Instagram HERE to see some different images from my week away!

Love El

xxx

One Product Eyeshadow Tutorial

Today I have maybe the easiest smokey eye tutorial ever?! 

The tutorial only needs one product, a black eyeshadow (or any dark shadow of your choice.) Today I am using a Matte black shadow out of the Sleek Sparkle Palette and an angled eyeshadow brush.

First thing you will need to do is create a wing using your eyeshadow and brush. Once getting the shape blend your dark shadow through the crease and on the outer half of your lid, be sure to blend the line with the rest of your shadow. I found the best technique is to pack on the eyeshadow using your finger just by the line and to then blend it out using a brush. This technique will also create a gradient of the colour through your crease and lid.

And that really is it! I love this look, it certainly seems like you have put in a lot of effort when in reality it took about 2 minutes!

This is such a quick and easy way to create a smokey eye, prefect for transforming a look from day to night.

Love El

xxx

My Hair Care Routine & Hair History Pt. 1

As a girl who has gone from having soft, silky hair to having bleached, dry and damaged hair I feel I have tried and tested enough products to recommend some that really work and can restore your hair.

After going very blonde in the beginning of Summer 2014 and having 2 sets of bleach highlights far too close together my hair was in the worst condition it has ever been in. Before having my hair dyed it went through so much heat damage but with stood everything and was always so healthy but when all of that changed I was not happy! I then went on to try many products and here are the ones that have saved my hair and restored it back to a great condition!

First up is Head and Shoulder's Dry Scalp in the almond oil scent (which is an amazing smell by the way!) I use this as sometimes my scalp can feel very dry and tight and this seriously helps. Then we have Aussie's Mega Shampoo, I use this every so often as a clarifying shampoo, but wouldn't use this every time I wash my hair as it can be quite drying.

This brand and these products I cannot talk about highly enough, they genuinely saved my hair! I use the Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo and Brazilian Keratin Smooth Conditioner. These have honestly saved my hair and bought it back to being healthy. I discovered the brand at the end of the Summer and even though the products aren't cheap they last so so long as you don't have to use a lot.

Next up is a L'Oreal product, this is my favourite hair mask, I've used a lot but this one has benefited my hair the most. It also really does make my hair feel and look thicker, I also discovered this at the end of the Summer. I use this after my shampoo and before my conditioner. BUY HERE.

I have been using Aussie's Light Weight Miracle Recharge Hair Insurance
 and Herbal Essence Split End Cream for many many years not and I will never stop using them, they are great products. This Organix Coconut Weightless Mist is of course another saviour! It feels amazing in your hair and makes it feel so soft.

These three really are my saviours and I don't think I will ever be without them again! I bought the coconut oil spray end of Summer 2014 and use it every time I wash my hair (every 2-3 days), so it really is amazing how long it's lasting!

I never used to use a heat protector but now I feel I have to to help my hair, and this has to be my favourite. BUY HERE.

And those are the products that restored my soft, healthy hair.
Monday is going to be a timeline of my hair over the years, so look out for some very embarrassing pictures!

Love El
xxx

Ombre Lips

Ombre lips are something I'm seeing everywhere at the moment and have been seeing for a while, so I thought I would give them a go myself! After a few trail runs I realised my bottom lip is actually slightly wonky but after that I came up with this look. It is a beautiful deep purple turning pink as you get into the middle of the lips.

I found you will definitely want to use a lip liner the outline your lips first, this helped me so much. After that I went around the outside of my lips with the darker lipstick to again create an outline. I then applied the pink lipstick in the middle of my lips and blended the colours together.

I feel like is definitely something to keep practising as it's quite tricky to start off with, but then I feel you do kind of get the hang of it!

My attempt is certainly not the best but it's also not the worst, so here is my attempt:

Products:

• Grimas Lip Liner
• Topshop - Depth - Buy HERE
• Urban Decay - Jilted - Buy HERE

Lip Liner:

Lipstick Roughly Done:

Final and Blended Look:

Would you ever attempt the ombre lip look?

Do you like this trend?

Love El

xxx

Sunset Eyeshadow Tutorial

I cannot believe the last time I did a makeup tutorial post was the 24th of January, that is way too long ago so here is a new one, with lots more to come!

After getting some inspiration from Pinterest I came up with this eye makeup look that I could only describe as looking like a sunset. Now I didn't add anything to my eyelashes because I really wanted this all to be about the eyelids (that sounds really odd!)

Products I used:

• Sleek - Oh So Special Palette - Buy HERE (my palette is the old version)
• MAC - Cranberry Eyeshadow - Buy HERE
• Urban Decay - Half Baked Eyeshadow - Buy HERE
• Rimmel - Exaggerate Eyeliner - Black - Buy HERE

What I did:

The first step I took to create the look was to put the dark brown eyeshadow from my Sleek palette very lightly through the crease, this is being used as a transition colour.

Next I packed my Urban Decay Half Baked shadow all over the lid using my finger to get a true gold colour. I also ran this on my lower lash line.

Then using Cranberry, I ran this through my crease and blended out the edges to make sure it was seamless and had a smokey look to it. I applied this to the outer third of my lower lash line.

After realising the berry shade had gone over the gold I started to pack more gold and blend the two together so it was seamless. 

Once I had reached my desired look I added some winged liner and that was my final look!

I really think the berry shade and gold compliment each other very nicely and I hope you like this look.

The colours haven't come out as vibrant on camera but I love this look, it really does remind me of a sunset.

Love El
xxx