My 6 Favourite Festive Lipsticks

Not only are these some of my all time favourite excellent quality lipsticks that are great any time of year, but they are the most beautiful colours for the festive season- which isn't over yet! The winter season is perfect for sporting this kind of bold lip, whether you go for deep, sultry purple, or that classic chic bold red.They also all have brilliant staying power because the swatches were really hard to get off my arm afterwards!

 From left to right: 

1. No7 Moisture Drench lipstick in shade 75 'Sugar Plum'

2. Rimmel Moisture Renew lipstick in shade 500 'Diva Red'

3. Max Factor in shade 830 'Dusky Rose'

4. Sleek Matte lipstick in shade 783 'Mystic'

5. No7 Moisture Drench lipstick in shade 120 'Siren'

6. MAC Mattene lipstick in 'Rare Exotic' 

A top tip for applying this kind of dark lip is to use a fine lip synthetic lip brush for a really precise finish to line the lips and perfect your natural shape. Then use the lipstick straight from the bullet, particularly darkening the center of the bottom lip to make them appear as full as possible. Add a tiny bit of highlighter just above your cupids bow to draw attention to your lips. 

Black and Gold NYE

So seen as last night was New Year's Eve (Happy New Year!) I thought I would go for a sparkly black and gold theme. I built my make up look and nails around my dress (topshop black and gold velvet glittery) and think it really epitomized the new year theme.

• To get my make up look I began using a primer from Nivea (Express hydration primer). I don't normally use a primer as I find that a good moisturiser does the same job, but I had this one as a sample from Glamour magazine so I thought I would give it a try. It went on so smoothly and had instant absorption as it was very thin, so I could apply my foundation super quick afterwards. 
• For my foundation I used one from No7 which is very high coverage, unfortunately the one I used has recently been discontinued so I won't list it here because there wouldn't be much point, however a new one which is also really great is the Beautifully Matte Foundation from No7. A true match colour service is now available at No7 counters so you can really get that perfect colour match. 
• For concealer I use my Rimmel hide the blemish concealer to go under my eyes to conceal any dark circles, and also on any blemishes. 
• I then lock my foundation into place with my Rimmel Stay Matte powder which is my favourite powder ever, really does the trick to keep you looking shine free throughout the night. Apply liberally particularly in the center of the face where shine is most common.
• Next I used by baked bronzer from Famous by Sue Moxley in shade Hawaii to contour my cheeks to give the appearance of naturally defined cheekbones. I also use this on my temples to give an all round glow to the skin. 
• For blusher I used Rimmel in shade Pink Rose on the apples of my cheeks to blend into the bronzer creating a more natural look. 
• For highlighter I used my Benefit High Beam just above the apple of my cheeks where my blusher finishes to create a luminescent finish and youthful appearance to the skin. 
• To fill in my brows I used my MUA eye shadow using an angled brush to lightly fill in any gaps and strengthen the shape of my brows. 
• Before applying my eye shadow I used my primer from Front Cover Cosmetics which is really an important step especially if you have quite oily eye lids and you find your shadow often creases or doesn't last.  
• When doing a strong eye look like this one, using two colours that don't naturally blend into each other, it is key to apply the darkest colour first. I used my black shade first from a Natural Collection compact, starting slightly more than half way onto the lid. I took this up through the crease and winged it out slightly. I then used a clean brush to tidy up the line and blend thoroughly. 
• Then I used my gold colours which is the same as the other gold look I did the other night, using both colours from Front Cover Cosmetics. Blend as best as possible into the black slightly, but not too much as you will end up with quite a murky colour. I put quite a lot of gold on the tear-duct to open the eye, as opposed to what I usually use which is white. I liberally applied the holographic glitter in the corner of the eye- after all it is NY!
• Then I used my Maybelline gel eye liner to thinly define my lash line, winging it out quite a bit to create that feline appearance. 
• Before applying my false lashes, I used my MAC Opulash Optimum Black mascara on top and bottom lashes, and then used my Cheryl Cole Eylure lashes. The key to applying false lashes is to leave the glue a good minute before applying so they stick better, and also to use tweezers and hold the lash in the center with the tweezers and then gently place in the middle of the lash line. Then simply tuck in the sides with the tweezers and leave to dry. I then apply a final coat of mascara to merge both natural and false lashes together. 
• Use your favourite Kohl eye pencil to line the waterline of your lashes to define if you want that added impact. 

What's on my nails?

 For my nails I took the black and gold theme to the extreme by using, both from Barry M, using shades 'Black' and then using lots and lots of 'Yellow Topaz Glitter' as a top coat. Not only does this create a super sparkly festive look, but as a top coat this will make the nail polish last a lot longer. I really like this look and I got a lot of compliments particularly about the nails, so I hope that you guys have fun experimenting with it too. 

Shake the Glitter

Seen as it's Christmas and New Year is fast approaching, I thought this would be a great make-up look for the festive season. I wore this sparkly gold glitter make up for a party last night, and it was so fun to experiment with. For me, Christmas is the one time of year when its acceptable to wear both a striking eye and a bold lip. This look goes perfect with that classic chic red lip, or even a dark purple which is what I teamed it with. Try out this glamorous make-up look for this season and your bound to sparkle.

To get this eye make up look I used:

• base shadow primer from frontcover cosmetics
• gold eye shadow by frontcover
• holographic glitter by frontcover
• No7 eye shadow in 'Starry Lights'
• Maybelline gel liner
• MAC Opulash Optimum black mascara
• Cheryl Cole lashes by Eylure 

What's on my nails? 

I teamed this glitter look with a classic red from Nails Inc in the colour 'St James' which is my ultimate favourite winter colour- a bold red that's not too dark and serious, slightly pink in tone. I also used Barry M in 'Yellow Topaz Glitter' as a glittery topcoat to add an ultra sparkly festive look. 

Winter Favourites

Champneys citrus body scrub £8.

In the winter season, skin if often a lot drier and therefore needs a lot more attention. This gentle exfoliating scrub is perfect to remove dead skin cells and dry skin to get your skin looking wonderfully smooth and soft. Whats more, it smells absolutely unbelievable of citrus fragrances, and the coarse texture of cardamon, coconut fibres and brown sugar feels so luxurious when putting on the skin. Gently rub into skin twice a week to exfoliate the skin, leaving it beautifully fresh and hydrated. I would then use Champneys citrus body lotion which combines lemon, mandarin and sweet almond oil to really nourish the skin and make it super soft; the pair works really great together and you end up with lovely soft skin that lasts. Particularly good after shaving to remove the dry skin. 

Nails Inc- Victoria & Albert

This is a classic all year round shade, however it is particularly fitting for Christmas!  Nails Inc is also  expertly adept at creating a polish which will not chip, long lasting quality nail polish which will never fail to look classic and sophisticated. I would advise however applying a top coat over to seal completely the polish and make it last all through the season! Each at £11. 

MAC lipstick in 'rebel'

This lipstick is the complete perfect shade for winter! Winter is the one season to rock a dark lip  and neutral eye combo, and this shade gives the traditional red lip to a modern twist. Its rich, intense, plum colour creates an immediate dramatic, brave look which will transform any outfit and make up look instantly. If you don't want to wear this straight from the bullet, blot it onto the lip with a finger and then use balm to create a soft stain, which still has a gorgeous impact suitable for day time. I would pair this lipstick with a strong gel liner and bare lids to allow the lip to take centre stage, bronzed contoured cheeks and layers of mascara to balance out the look. 

Sleek Make up- Pomegranate blush
This blush is so beautiful as its truly unusual deep, borderline purple shade creates a wonderful shimmery, yet deep colour on the skin. However, it is fair to say that this blush is my no means too harsh on the skin, however I would stay clear if you have super pale skin- this suits darker tones much better. Whilst creating rich colour, this blush also provides a highlighter as its shimmery particles reflect against the skin, contouring the cheekbones and drawing light to the skin making the skin appear fresher and more luminous. This is also a great value product at £4.49.

Revlon in 'Vixen'

This is the perfect autumn nail polish shade! Its deep, rich wine colour instantly reminds me of autumn and the winter months. It is also a very wearable classic shade, suitable for every day wear, and a timeless essential that will always bring you instant confidence. 

Barry M in 'Silver Lilac'

Although not conventionally 'wintry', I have just discovered this amazing new shade from Barry M! It looks like a  lilac metallic at first, however glittery iridescent particles appear making it instantly perfect for the winter season. Beneath the lilac surface is also beautiful hints of metallic green, making this shade truly unique and perfect for a Christmas party! At £2.99 per bottle, this really is affordable for the great quality nail polish. Once again Barry M have proven their nail polish is almost bullet-proof- I put mine on two weeks ago for a party, haven't reapplied since and it still remains indestructible! This is definitely my favourite nail colour at the moment!