Max Factor Colour Elixir Lip Gloss: Captivating Ruby

I received this gloss in a free gift package a few months back and have lately been putting it to the test. It is essentially a vivid gloss with strong colour pigment that leaves a stain after the gloss wears off, which it does after a few hours. First of all, I love this red colour as it is as bright as reds come which I find most flattering and vibrant. One can not be a wallflower and wear a shade like this, which is great as it really makes you stand out which inspires confidence. It goes on really smoothly, but due to the bright shade it takes a careful application; sadly it is not one of those glosses that can be just thrown on without looking. Once it is on however, it is a great statement lip and does last a solid couple of hours. Word of warning though, if you are eating/drinking the gloss holds up for less time. Once the gloss has faded, a more subtle red shade is left which is nice if you want a more natural look. It is not akin to Rimmel Apocalips in the sense that it stays on forever without having to apply it again, but it gets my thumbs up in terms of how it looks. I think this is a lovely statement summer look combining a beaut red shade with a super glossy finish which is perfect for tanned, sun kissed skin. As for longevity, I have tried better staying glosses but having to apply it a few more times throughout the night is worth the lustrous look it gives. What's more, it isn't at all sticky which is always a winner in my opinion as there is nothing worse than a lip gloss hair situation. I will be wearing this non stop throughout my holiday this week, and you can get your hands on it for £7.99, a fairly standard price for this type of product; I couldn't be happier receiving it for free and I probably would purchase it regardless of that.

Have you guys tried any glosses from this range?

xox

The Lip Product Addict Tag

If there is one beauty product I just cannot resist, it is lipstick, and when I saw Amelia Liana and Essie Button's tag video, it was right up my street. I have two embarrassingly full vanity cases full and yet continue to hoard. I adore lipstick because it is a fun way to completely switch up your make-up without changing things that are more difficult to get right. I change what lip products are in my make-up bag weekly as I find it fun to alternate and make sure I get use out of all of them, instead of buying more. However, I have tried enough to know what are permanent winners in my collection and which ones will never leave my make-up bag, so here we go!

1. Favourite balm/treatment
Nivea lip butter in Raspberry Rose. I love this lip butter because it is super buttery and thick which means it really moisturizes your lips. I use this all the time, especially before bed as it really nourishes and my lips never feel dry or chapped. I have gone through a few tins now and keep repurchasing as it works well for me. Other flavours are lovely too, but the smell of this is my favourite. 

2. Best eye-catching red
I don't often wear bright pillar-box red unless it is the festive season, but I love wearing dark shades of red veering on the purple side, such as the much loved Kate Moss 107. My favourite however is Prohibition from Collection's Deluxe range. This shade is a deep, red wine shade which really compliments my skin tone for a great dramatic look. Moreover, the formula of these Deluxe lipsticks are incredible, and are one of my favourite from the drugstore by far. They are super moisturising so would be great if your lips get chapped easily. They are also really pigmented, ridiculously inexpensive and they smell unbelievable. Not to mention the packaging is also super chic and looks a lot more expensive than its £3.99 price tag. 

3. Best luxury and best drugstore
My favourite luxury lipstick is my all-time favourite 'holy grail' lipstick (big claim for a lipstick hoarder I know!) It is Bobbi Brown's Wild Rose which is a mauve style pink. It is a really natural shade but is the nicest pink colour which really livens up a simple, everyday make-up look. I wear this all the time and it never veers too far from my make-up bag. I have to stop myself from using it too often as it is quickly running out. This is the kind of shade which if in doubt of what to wear, I will go to this as it fail-safe. The rich formula is wonderful as it lasts a long time and is incredibly pigmented. I think this kind of tone looks gorgeous with pale skin, although it is the kind of mid-pink which will look amazing on any skin type as it is not too pale. I often dab this on for a soft effect, but it builds up easily to a really nice deep pink which looks great for evening. Every time I wear this I just feel sophisticated, it is that type of elegant shade and is worth it's more expensive price tag.
As from the drugstore, it is another shade from Collection's Deluxe range. This shade Tallulah is a really soft, baby pink without looking too 'Barbie'. The creamy formula and beautiful shade is a winning combination. Again, this is another shade which you can slap on without thinking about as it always looks lovely. It looks great everyday or especially gorgeous paired with a really smoky eye to balance things out.

4. Best MAC lipstick
I only own one MAC lipstick so far but it is the most beautiful and unique shade, and that is Rebel. This is my favourite autumn/winter shade as it such a stand out one. It stays put for a stupidly long time- literally without budging until you decide it is coming off. It wins the award for most long lasting lipstick hands down, you can read my full post here. 

5. The most disappointing
In my opinion it has to be the Lancome Juicy Tubes. These are by far the stickiest gloss I have ever encountered. Granted, lip glosses are often slightly tacky that is just their formula, but these are a new level as it is literally like glue. If you smack your lips together they will pull apart with difficulty- yes that is how bad we are talking. It does leave a super glossy finish but the formula is not worth the hassle, and certainly not the price.

6. Liner- yes/no?
I don't wear liner on the regular but when I want my lipstick to last for a really long time, or if I am going for a super bold shade such as red, I will line my whole lips with this Illusion Nude Lip Liner from Model co. It is the perfect nude which looks great alone, but can be layered underneath any shade to really lock things in place. But for everyday, I would say if the lipstick has great staying power anyway, liner is non-essential. 

7. Best Gloss
My favourite comes from Revlon in the shade Bellini, a lovely peach toned nude which has a really subtle shimmer running through. It looks great alone to create a really natural, glamorous look a la Kim K. This is my favourite to wear with a really smoky evening eye as it really softens things and ties the look together. The formula is slightly sticky but is one of the better ones I have found- more than bearable put it that way and nothing akin to Lancome's juicy tubes.

8. Something Extra
Finally, I couldn't do a lip product post without mentioning that of Revlon Lip Butters- a great moisturising formula that remains pigmented and adds a subtle pop of colour- a perfect way to get into more adventurous shades without being too dramatic. They have a great colour range too to experiment with, and is the perfect easy option which can be thrown on like a balm. My favourite shade is Raspberry Pie, fairly similar to MAC's Rebel if you really build it up. What's great is that they are surprisingly pigmented which allows you to achieve that full lipstick effect with a slightly glossy finish, or else you can softly dab it on to create a really pretty and natural flush. 

Hope you guys enjoyed this tag, be sure to link me if you have done it too!

xox

What's In My Summer Make-Up Bag?

Base:
In summer a primer for me is essential to make things last as long as possible in the summer heat. I have been using Maybelline's Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser for a while now and, although I don't find it as good as Benefit's Porefessional, it does a fairly good job of evening out my skin. It has a lovely silky texture and does provide a nice base for foundation, but as for making the make up last a super long time I'm not as convinced. My foundation of choice this season is L'Oreal True Match which is just wonderful, my favourite foundation as of yet. I find the texture perfect, it goes over dry patches and lasts a long time, and what's more they have a great colour range. Of course, I do get oily throughout the day but I keep this under control with Maybelline's The Matte Maker which is a really nice solid translucent pressed powder. As for concealer, I use Collection Lasting Perfection no matter what season as it is my all time favourite. I use the lightest shade for concealing under my eye area, and the medium shade works brilliantly at covering blemishes and scars. 



Face:
For bronzer, I've tried to switch things up from my usual Body Shop Honey bronzer (which is unbelievable!) and I have found a new love with L'Oreal Glam Bronze. Although the picture above looks slightly orange, that is due to slight editing in saturation it is actually a really natural tan colour. I love using this all around my face for a tanned glow. I use the lightest shade in 00 Blond Sun which I think would be a great shade for pale-medium skin tones as it looks most natural. A long with this I like to switch up to cream blush in summer for a nice dewy and long lasting finish. Max Factor Miracle Touch cream blush in the shade Soft Pink is divine. It blends out really easily and creates a nice sheen on the skin. I finish this combination off with a dash of Soap & Glory's Glow All Out Luminizing Radiance Face Powder for a soft, really gentle highlight.

Eyes:
For summer, Urban Decay's Naked 2 Palette is simply gorgeous. It has all the bronze shades you could possibly want, and I have not used another palette at all this season, even Naked 3 has been neglected. I have been particularly obsessed with the beautiful golden shade,everyone's favourite, Half Baked,as well as Bootycall for an inner corner highlight, and Foxy across the browbone. The staying power and pigment of these shadows is brilliant but I still use a base to last all day, using either my fail safe Maybelline Colour Tattoo in On and on Bronze, or Rimmel ScandalEyes Shadowstick in 002 Bulletproof Beige. For eyeliner I've been enjoying using Eyeko's Skinny liquid liner which I received in Glamour magazine. It is super intense in colour and I find the felt tip applicator really easy to use. As for mascara, I need waterproof in the summer and I particularly love using Max Factor's Clump Defy, and then Maybelline's The Rocket to create super volumised lashes that will last all day. 

Brows:
For brows, my routine has stayed the same for a while now and I'm planning a new brow guide as I am really happy with this High Brow kit from Beauty UK. This kit has everything needed to achieve a perfect brow, wax to shape and then three shadows. I follow this up with Maybelline's Brow Drama Mascara to keep everything in place and find that this lasts all day and creates a perfectly shaped brow.

Lips:
For lips I have been loving red this summer. I think it looks great with bronzed skin and golden eye make-up, which is pretty much been my standard look. For a casual day I will wear Maybelline Baby Lips in the shade Cherry Me for a natural tint, or Revlon's Lip Butter in the shade Wild Watermelon. Both leave a lovely hint of colour in a slightly pinky red shade, with a nice glossy effect which I adore for summer. For an evening look I will pair Max Factor's gloss in the shade 30 Captivating Ruby. This is seriously pigmented alone but when paired a colour underneath it gives a lovely rich effect with lasting colour. 

Hope your all having a wonderful summer!

xox

My Go-To Evening Make-up Look Using Urban Decay NAKED 3 Palette

To create this evening look using the Naked 3 palette, I started by using a cream shadow base to make sure everything stayed in place all night. I used my Maybelline Color Tattoo in the shade 'Pink Gold', which I am absolutely loving at the moment as it works beautifully on its own for a natural effect, but also acts brilliantly as a base, giving the eye shadow something to cling onto. Next, using the palette, I took the shade 'Limit' using the flat shader brush from the palette, swiping this across the lid up to the crease. I then swept 'Nooner' through the crease to add definition. Then I took one of my favourite shades, 'Dust', and swept this over 'limit', paying particular attention to the center and inner part of the eye to create a brightening effect. I then used the darkest shade in the palette, 'Blackheart', using the fluffy side of the brush and swept this across the crease for added definition, paying particular attention to the outer corner of the eye to create an eye-opening, winged effect. I then blended the edges with a clean brush and repeated to build up the pigment for intensity. Next, I cleaned up the edges using a cotton bud to make sure everything was even and clean looking. I then went in with the highlighting shade, 'Strange', and applied this to the tear duct and brow bone for extra brightness, balancing out the smoky eye. 

All that was left for the eyes was for me to use my trusty liquid liner from Collection, and lashings of mascara- my choice for this look was The Rocket Volum' Express from Maybelline, which is great for creating that false lash effect. I would advise getting the waterproof version as this prevents any smudging whatsoever and is super long lasting. On my waterline I used a new product which I am trying out from Too Faced, their waterproof eyeliner in 'Perfect Peacock', a beautiful turquoise shade to add something a bit different to the look instead of classic black kohl which would create a harsher effect. Hope you like the look and I will be bringing you my everyday make-up look using this palette soon!

Lucy

xox

Current 'Holy Grail' Products

So seen as I have been M.I.A for a seriously long time, I feel like a post on my current favorites is more than overdue. Instead of doing an explicit favorites post, these are a select few items which I literally could not be without in my make-up bag; all items which I would repurchase over and over again, so-called 'holy grail' products if you like. I have been using all of these for at least 3 months, hence I have thoroughly tested them and can honestly vouch for them.

Let's start with the Urban Decay Naked 3 palette. I got this at Christmas as a gift and I was literally so overjoyed. I was desperate to do a post on it and share my love but without a camera or a phone with a flash, that was pretty difficult. I am sure by this point everybody is sick and tired of hearing how amazing the much anticipated Naked 3 palette is and I'm fairly confident that the majority of bloggers/YouTubers out there own this thing and already know how wonderful it is, but if you haven't got your hands on it yet, what are you waiting for?! The quality of these shadows is unparalleled which I am sure goes without saying, one swipe offers super strong pigmentation and incredible staying power, which for £37 for 12 shadows, in comparison with around £12 for just one MAC shade, is a no brainer. It truly is as good as people say and I must have used it more or less every day I've worn make-up since I got it, evening or daytime. It is simply the most stunning palette ever, and my favorite out of the three of them by a country mile. Shortly after Christmas I brought the Naked 2 to complete my set as I heard that it was many people's favorite out of the three, but for me this is my perfect palette. Literally if I had to customize my own palette, i'm pretty sure it would look something like this, pink and sparkly, yet surprisingly wearable. Out of the 12 shades, all but 3 are shimmery, but the 3 matte shades are all you need to create the perfect smoky eye. Although the pinkness of the palette might put some people off, the shades are so muted and neutral that they are extremely wearable, yet they add such a unique element to your make-up look which makes you look refined and polished, with an edge. I find this is a really sophisticated day-time look; my favorite day-to-day is to use limit across the lid, then blend nooner into the crease, finished with strange in the inner corner and brow bone. It is by no means overpowering or too heavy, yet it seriously adds something to the everyday face with such minimal effort. As for the evening, my favorite is to do pretty much the same but with blackheart blended into the crease for a more dramatic and glamorous look. I will be doing posts soon featuring my favorite looks from this palette, so stay peeled for that! 

Before I forget that this post is not just about the Naked 3 palette, I'll move on to the best bronzer ever. This is the Honey Bronze Bronzing Powder from The Body Shop, and it is seriously the best one I've ever tried, so much so that I find it impossible to go back to anything else. The thing that makes this so wonderful is how incredibly natural it makes you look, literally giving you the feeling of having just been in the natural sun. It comes in 4 shades, and I have the third one, yet even the fourth shade is not too dark. This bronzer is completely matte which is perfect for contouring, and literally a beautiful tan color which never looks orange. Unless you have super fair skin, I would recommend going for shade 3 which isn't too dark at all; no matter how much you apply, it still just looks like that perfect after-holiday tanned glow. I've almost hit pan on mine now which is exciting because I never normally love bronzers as much as this, and at £13 I think this is totally worth it. 

My favorite blush these days is the Rose Gold blush from Sleek, which as you can see in the image above, is super beautiful. To me, this just screams spring/summer. It is a pinky peach tone with golden flecks of shimmer, a shade which I only whip out normally this time of year. The pigmentation of Sleek blushers is unreal, the best I have tried from the drugstore for sure. Due to the highlighting effect which is super pretty in the daylight, highlighter is not necessary, yet unlike a lot of blushers that have shimmer, this still retains that pop of color which makes it an absolute steal at just £4.49. 

My favorite lipstick not only right now, but possibly ever (big claim I know), is the Collection Deluxe lipstick in 02 Talullah. I wear this literally every day. It is the perfect every day pink, your lips but better shade. I whack this on no matter what make-up I have on purely because I know it will go beautifully. Not only in the day, this goes stunningly with a dramatic smoky eye, I particularly love wearing this with my nighttime take on the Naked 3 palette. The formula of these lipsticks is seriously a winner, another favorite of mine during the winter holidays was prohibition from the same line, they are super nourishing and smooth, creamy and pigmented which is a rare combination which reminds me very much of MAC cremesheen lipsticks. At £3.99, this is an absolute gem. And they smell wonderful which always makes me happy!

Collection's Lasting Perfection Concealer is the best concealer ever. I'm actually convinced, and I don't want to even try others which are undoubtedly much more expensive, purely because this works so well, and at just £4.19 it is seriously under priced! I have been using this for so long now, I have the lightest shade for under my eyes which is so good at brightening and concealing dark circles, and then I have the second shade for any redness/blemishes/scars and all that nasty stuff. If you haven't tried this yet go for it, I swear you won't need to use another concealer again. 

I am also pretty sure that I have found my favorite mascara. This is a big deal because I must change my mascara every time one runs out. It is Max Factor's Masterpiece Max High Volume & Definition Mascara. The length this gives my lashes is seriously unbeatable, so much so that numerous people think they are false, totally worth it for £9.99. This tube is running out and I will be repurchasing it for sure. 

Another great discovery is Maybelline's Brow Drama Sculpting Brow Mascara. I always used to just use clear mascara to shape and keep my brows intact, but this is so much better because not only does it do this, but it adds a tiny bit of color to make them more defined and set my powder in place. Such a winner at £4.99 as well!

Finally, I went back to my old favorite liquid eyeliner. I had been using gel for a while but I found it more smudgy and messy to work with, whereas I find liquid liner more slick and sophisticated, with better staying power. My all time favorite is Collection's Fast Stroke eyeliner. Wow, Collection are seriously on it because this stuff is insane. It is blacker than black, thick and totally opaque. You don't have to keep building it for intensity, just a few swipes and you have the perfect cat eye. This is actually what helped me learn how to perfect liquid liner due to the super precise nib which is the perfect thickness and really easy to control. If you are a beginner at liner or if you just find it tricky, seriously grab your hands on this! At £2.99, I will be buying this for life.

XO

New Love: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stains

First of all, apologies for disappearing since my last post which was erm, 17 July... 

I hadn't totally forgotten about blogging but I guess I kind of got distracted with summer, starting university and then my camera totally broke when perfume exploded in my bag on a night out, oops. Anyhow, I'm back. I have a new camera that my sister very kindly gave me and lots of new products to rant about. This post existed as a draft from way back last summer, so I thought I may as well finish it seen as I am still absolutely in love with these Revlon Just Bitten kissable balm stains. 

The staying power of these is unreal. Even though it's a heck of a long time ago, I remember wearing the shade Lovesick before my flight home from Cyprus, and no kidding, the stain was still intact after a full night of travelling- true test of staying power that is. I adore lovesick, it is a bright fuchsia which is so perfect now spring/summer is swinging back round again. A much more muted option is honey, a beautifuly demure everyday shade which would be perfect with any look. The formula of these is seriously wonderful, they apply fairly opaque and you can build it up to the point of a lipstick, yet you could as easily wear as a sheer stain. They have a glossy finish which is perfect as spring and summer is all about the glossy lips trend. If that's not enough to convince you, they smell deliciously of mint! I seriously adore these and can't wait to try the ColorBurst lacquer and matte balms, have you guys tried these?

XO

My Top Five Beauty Tips for Vacation

Courtesy of Pinterest

Hey guys! 

Seen as I've just got back from holiday I thought it would be a wise idea to share with you some of my ultimate holiday make-up tips to try and make your vacation less stressful! I'm lucky enough to be going on holiday again next week so these are definitely tips I will be keeping in mind during the blazing heat which just doesn't go hand in hand with make-up!

1. On holiday, less is more...

It just does not make sense to me to be wearing a ton of make-up on the beach. Personally it is just too much hassle to maintain combined with oiliness, sweat, sunscreen, and make-up? Wearing make-up in the daytime on holiday is a recipe for disaster for my oily complexion. I'm all up for wearing make-up to go out in the evenings when you want to look your best but whilst lying under the sun, is it really necessary to wear foundation and the like? I don't know about you but mine would just melt off completely hence, a complete waste. On holiday make-up should enhance your fabulous tan and natural glow, not mask it, hence less is definitely more in my opinion. Of an evening I tend to stick with a BB cream, concealer, powder (non-negotiable), blush, bronzer, mascara and lipstick. Ditch the gel liner and the lashes- who has time for this on vacation? To me there is something ultra sexy about a natural face with just a sweep of mascara for intensity and a bold lip to add something exciting to your look.

2. Powder Powder Powder...

Even if you aren't cursed with the hindrance that is oily skin, your skin will naturally go slightly oilier on holiday due to sweating, hence powder is your new best friend. Dust gently all over your face, paying particular attention to your T-zone (forehead and nose) where you sweat most, and also your chin and upper lip. If you do have oily skin, the trick is to layer your make-up to help prevent it sweating off, e.g. apply cream blush, then layer powder, then bronzer and then a dust more powder if you wish to lock your make-up tightly in place. I recommend two powders in particular; my trusty Rimmel Stay Matte, and Soap and Glory One Heck of A Blot. These will help keep you looking matte, but of course they aren't going to make you look matte forever realistically if you have oily skin, so always make sure to take your compact out with you.  

3. Opt for Cream Products...

As opposed to powder, choose cream based products instead as these have longer staying powder and will not sweat off which powder can do in the heat. This rule particularly applies for blush, for me cream blush is so much nicer in the summer instead of powder and will have much longer staying power, whilst also helping you look extra glowy and more natural looking. My favorite at the moment is Revlon's Pinched, I wore this incessantly in Zante for its natural, healthy glow to create the classic 'no make-up look'. Cream eye products are also a lot better for holiday as these will crease less and keep your make-up looking fresher for longer. I couldn't recommend Maybelline's Colour Tattoo's for staying power any higher, particularly the cult shade on-and-on bronze which is all I wore on my eyes on holiday. It is such a beautiful colour that goes with literally every outfit under the sun to create a very put together look that actually took no effort at all. Despite my excessively oily lids, these stay on my eyes all night with minimal creasing. 

4. Whip out your Brow Gel...

Especially if you fill in your brows using powder for a natural look, powder may melt down your face in the heat revealing not so natural looking brows...hence brow gel is your savior! This will keep your brows looking perfectly natural and groomed at the same time- best.invention.ever. If you don't have brow gel or forget to take one with you, a top tip is to spray a brow groomer brush with hairspray and then use this to comb through your brows. This will have the same effect of keeping your brows perfectly intact throughout the night, whilst also holding your brow product tightly in place.

5. Rock a Bold Lip...

If you can't rock a bold lip in summer then when can you? Of course you can rock a bold lip any time of year, but for summer something about a bright, daring lip adds such character and fun to a seemingly boring make-up look. If, like me, you go fairly natural on your make-up on holiday, rocking a statement lip will transform your look completely. If you rock a bright orange lip in winter I salute you, but in the summer and especially on vacation you will look bang on trend and super fun. A few of my favorite bright bold lips at the moment include Revlon's lip butter in Wild Watermelon, Rimmel's Kate Moss 110 Vibrant Coral, and Maybelline Color-sensational Vivid in 902 Fuchsia Flash. Something about glossy lips in summer is also so gorgeous that I cannot resist layering a bold gloss on top for a sultry finish, my favorite at the moment is Revlon's Sizzle, a bold orange colour that looks like a match made in heaven with wild watermelon. 

xox

Smashbox Treats!

So recently I went to Cheshire Oaks Outlet Mall and of course I checked out The Cosmetics Company store- filled with all the best high-end make-up brands with huge discounts- impossible to resist! As usual I had to tear myself away from buying everything in store, but above all, I was drawn to the Smashbox stand; a brand that I had heard fantastic things about but never actually tried myself. Smashbox is also a brand that I have never been able to get hold of here in the UK, although I do believe Boots now stock it and you can order online. So anyway, the first thing which alluded me was this Eye Enhancing Shadow Palette especially for blue eyes. I absolutely adore neutral based eye-shadows; I live by my trusty Urban Decay Naked palette and basically anything with neutral tones, which I find to really accentuate blue eyes, hence this palette had me written all over it. What I love about this handy little palette is that it consists of six shades, three mild shades to create a soft, wearable everyday look, and then three darker shadows to create that perfect smokey eye. This looks like the perfect ingredients for an extremely captivating smokey eye; I much prefer to do this using brown tones as opposed to heavy black shadow which can be a little overbearing- with this palette you can look sexy and sultry yet still subtle. 

As you can see, the top row consists of shimmery light shadows. The first is a gorgeous off-white shadow which is perfect for highlighting the inner corner of the eye and brow bone. I love the bottom trio most, particularly the middle brown shadow which I have found to be a perfect match for my brows to create a soft brow look which shows how versatile this palette can be. The dark brown is also a great brow colour if you have much darker brows like me; it does have a slight shimmer however which is not desirable for brows as obviously it isn't natural looking, but this is actually barely distinguishable, hence it is passable if you mix the two together which create a perfect brow colour.

(Soft Trio)

(Smoky Trio)

Another great thing about this palette is how it includes these easy to understand application tips, perfect for girls who are only just starting to explore make-up. It has the easiest tips for creating the perfect eye look, guiding you on where to apply the highlight and crease etc.

The other item I reluctantly picked up from Smashbox was this cream shadow in Amethyst- which is the most beautiful deep purple with vivid shimmer and pink undertones. Initially I  resisted buying this item, I swatched it on my hand, loved it, and then somehow found the willpower to walk away. It wasn't until after a few hours when I realised that the swatch on my hand hadn't budged at all- this was after washing my hands a few times and trying to rub it off- yet this beut refused to budge AT ALL. All the many other swatches on my hands had vanished throughout the day, yet this baby stayed and for that, I obviously couldn't resist a product with such unbelievable staying power as the pigmentation is incredible. As I have often said, I have seriously oily eyelids which often results in unsightly creasing and smudging which means I tend to struggle finding eye products that stay put, which meant that this gem would be perfect for me. It claims to have limitless 15 hour wear which makes is the best cream shadow I have ever come across in terms of longevity, and what's more the colour is absolutely divine and will make any eyes pop instantly. This stuff is literally bullet-proof, so get your hands on one if you are looking for a great cream shadow which will actually stay put all day, especially perfect for the summer heat!

Seen as I purchased these products at a discount store, I got these considerably cheaper, but if these catch your eye you can purchase these on the Smashbox website or Boots:

http://www.smashbox.co.uk/product/6029/23643/Eyes/Eye-Shadow/PHOTO-OP-EYE-ENHANCING-PALETTE-BLUE-EYES/index.tmpl

http://www.smashbox.co.uk/products/6029/Eyes/Eye-Shadow/index.tmpl

Have you guys tried any products from Smashbox recently?

ps. I'm sure everybody has heard the rumors about GFC shutting down, so please follow me on Bloglovin'!

xxxx 

My Three Favourite Foundations: Best For Each Skin Type

These three foundations all from the drugstore are my tried and tested favourite foundations possibly ever. I go through phases of using each one depending on how my skin is feeling and what look I am going for. I have absolute confidence in recommending all three to you depending on your skin type, and it just goes to show that you don't have to spend an extortion to achieve great looking skin!

My pick for combination skin:

How do I know if I have combination skin?

If your skin is combination, you have fairly normal skin which means that you may have normal skin with an oily t-zone which is most common, or maybe you have dryness around your cheeks but not all over. Your skin will have a comfortable feeling with a smooth, even texture with small pores. You may experience moderate shine and larger pores on the forehead, nose or chin, but not excessively so.

If this sounds like you, you are lucky in the sense that any formula of foundation will probably suit your skin. A favourite of mine is Rimmel's Match Perfection liquid foundation. This is a great stock foundation; it is perfect for normal skin as it provides good light to medium coverage and evens out your skin tone without masking your skin or leaving your skin feeling cakey or heavy. This can be shiny on my skin without powder, but on combination skin this would be perfect to control the skins oil and also provide a natural glow. It is not overtly dewy or mattifying which makes it the perfect middle ground for foundation. This foundation is also incredibly pocket-friendly at £6.99. Rimmel also has a fairly good shade range of 12 shades so you can be sure to find a suitable match for your skin tone; my shade is 103 'True Ivory' which is probably a little light for me this time of year but has still been a great colour match nonetheless. It also has a great SPF of 18 so you can forget about applying sunscreen; this beauty has it built in which is one less hassle to worry about which makes it a great summer foundation. All in all I find this product to be something of an ideal everyday foundation and certainly one I will be repurchasing in the future. It leaves me with a radiant finish but still manages to cover near enough all of my imperfections. It also smells lovely which makes its application all the more nicer, whats not to like?

Oily skin:

How do I know if I have oily skin?

Having oily skin can be a complete nuisance sometimes, I find that I get needlessly oily throughout the day and have to carry a compact powder around with me all the time to stop 'the shine' from occurring. If like me, you have oily skin, your skin will be shiny, especially through the T-zone (the forehead, nose, and chin); it is a condition caused by overactive sebaceous, or oil-producing, glands. You may find you have large, visible pores, especially on the nose and forehead, and are also prone to frequent breakouts as these are caused by the excess oil on your face.

The best foundation for oily skin for me personally, is foundation Revlon Colourstay especially for oily/combination skin. If you have dry skin I would completely stay away from this foundation as it would do nothing to hydrate your skin, although there is another formula of this that you can use. This foundation is oil-free and quite heavy, but not heavy enough to feel like your skin is blocked and cakey. I personally find the texture of this foundation to be just right for me because it is not too liquidy as it is quite thick, but this is great for concealing blemishes, acne scarring, hyper-pigmentation and all the rest that oil-skinned people often have. The only thing about this foundation that can be annoying is that, for one it has no pump which I really hate because it means that you can't always control how much you get out. But also, as soon as you put some on your skin you must work it into the skin right away with a buffing brush; I recommend using the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush for a flawless, airbrushed finish. If you dot some around your face all over and then expect to blend it at the end, this will make it extremely difficult to blend as it starts to set into the skin which makes it hard to move. If you start blending each section right away though, It is not a problem. As much of an annoyance that this technique can be, It is also probably the best thing about this foundation as once it is in place, it will not budge at all until you take it off. It is completely bullet-proof which means that no amount of heat or oil will cause this to melt off your face which makes it the perfect foundation for oily skin. I don't wear this on an everyday basis unless my skin is really unclear or I'm having particularly troublesome oily skin, but I always wear this for a night out because longevity is key and I trust that it will keep my face looking matte and fresh all night. The real test for this foundation was my prom in which I had this on from 4pm-4am, and it was still firmly in place at the end of the night; a true testament to how great this foundation is. You can get this foundation for a very reasonable £12.49.

Dry skin:

How do I know if I have dry skin?

If you have dry skin, your skin will feel tight after washing and may look dry or flaky. Pores will be small, almost invisible and the texture may be rough and uneven; dehydrated.

Liquid foundation is therefore necessary for dry skin in order to hydrate it and smooth your skin out. I have tried using Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation, but I have found this slightly oily for me due to my skin type, yet this would be perfect for dry skin. I can however, get away with this when I use a fair bit of powder, purely because I love the radiant effect on my skin which is beautifully fresh for summer. It is super hydrating and makes your skin look luminous and dewy, not shiny. I do like to use this when my skin is less oily as it creates such a radiant glow, but it is not mattifying which I rather prefer. I have heard so much about Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, but I think the foundation gives more coverage. I would say this gives medium coverage, but it can be applied quite lightly. In a similar way to the Revlon foundation, I find you have to blend this into the skin quickly and then it sets and looks great. It does not hold up on me as long as the Colourstay foundation, but this is due to my skin type most probably and for dry skin it would last a lot longer. Whether or not it lasts the supposed 16 hours is debatable, but this depends on how you prime your skin and your skin type. It does smell gorgeous however which I love, it has a super fruity scent which is beautiful for summer and it feels like it does a lot of good for my skin. It contains crystalline pigments for an even complexion and a healthy glow and also contains apricot for radiance, melon for hydration and apple to protect your youth. You can get hold of this for £9.99. 

I hope some of you guys found this post helpful; I was wearing the wrong type of product on my skin until I realised I had oily skin! The important thing is that you find the best foundation that works for you, for your own skin type.
xox

My Summer Make-Up Essentials

So seen as it is summer I thought I would create a post on all my summer beauty must haves, especially products that are bullet proof/heatproof as there is absolutely nothing worse than heavy make-up slipping and sliding all over your face in the heat. I personally love wearing less make-up in summer as I prefer the more natural look and usually with a tan, I don't feel the need to wear nothing more than the basics. But at the same time, a lot of people still like to wear their usual make-up but just change to products which are much more long lasting and will keep your make-up looking fresh all day long. 

Base:

In the summertime I usually still like to wear a foundation, purely because I have a bit of hyper-pigmentation from acne scarring which I prefer to cover up, but if your have near enough perfect skin I would totally skip wearing foundation; a bit of concealer will have you set perfectly. I like to switch to something that is quite light in texture so it doesn't feel like I have make-up on, but at the same time, something that gives me decent coverage and generally makes my skin look better. I love wearing my good old trusty Rimmel Match Perfection foundation; this is my go-to foundation and I wear this on a daily basis purely because I trust that it will look good without being heavy. This is perfect for the summer too because it is light and can be applied sparingly using a buffing brush for an almost sheer, tinted moisturiser finish, but is also very build-able and provides a good amount of coverage. What makes it ideal for summer is that is has SPF in it of 18 which is perfect; it means you can skip the sunscreen step on your face which is a lot more convenient. 

An alternative to wearing foundation is a BB cream; I have recently started testing this one from Rimmel which is better if you have near-perfect skin as it doesn't provide a great amount of coverage, which is why I prefer the foundation. This is perfect for holidays though when I don't like to wear a lot of make-up; it has SPF 30 which is fantastic, and is super lightweight so it doesn't feel like you have anything on your skin other than moisturiser. This product claims that it has 9 steps in one, including primer, concealer etc, which makes it the perfect one step product for holidays to stop you carrying around heaps of make-up. 

On top of this I've also been testing the Wake Me Up concealer, also from Rimmel, which I have seriously been loving. I think this is the best concealer for summer because it is super light yet still covers dark circles and blemishes, without creasing which makes this an essential in my summer make-up bag.

Also, If you are going on holiday and you know that your skin will most definitely change colour, I would advise getting hold of your foundation/BB cream one/two shades darker depending on how much you tan, that you can mix into your regular shade in order to adjust to your new skin tone. 

Bronzer:

In the summer I would absolutely not be without bronzer. It accentuates your already fabulous tan and if you haven't got a tan, it is all the more believable that your bronzed glow is real purely because it is summertime! My favourite one at the moment is the one from Bourjois; I have used this for a few months now and I think it is the most natural looking one I have used. Dust the bronzer on anywhere on your face that you would usually tan the most; the bridge of the nose, the temples, and highest points of your cheeks. Then blend down into the jawline and neck in order to match and create a flawless finish. Not only does this bronzer smell unbelievable, but it is perfect for me because it is matte, with a very slight soft shimmer which makes it more natural looking. When I am tanned on holiday, one of my favourite looks is to just wear bronzer all over for a tanned glow, with a bright coral lip to bring some fun and colour to the face.

As well as bronzer, powder and highlighter are also essential for summer. For me, there is only one powder I turn to all year round, but for summer especially I use none other than Rimmel Stay Matte powder. There is a reason that this powder is a firm favourite in so many beauty guru's kits; it is fantastic. For somebody who has oily skin, I can vouch that this powder will keep your make-up in place and keep you looking matte and shine free all day! 

For highlighter I have been drifting between my all time favourite Benefit High Beam which is amazing as it provides such a pigmented glow to the cheeks, perfect for summer as it makes you look radiant and luminous. I have also been trying out MUA's Undress Your Skin shimmer highlighter, which is great for the price and I absolutely love the marble effect finish of the packaging. It is not as long lasting as Benefit's High Beam, and at times it can be somewhat chalky, but it does have strong pigmentation and if you apply just a little bit, it gives a lovely shimmery finish which is perfect for summer.

In the summertime, although I still wear powder blush most of the time, there is something about cream blush which makes them perfect and much more suitable for summer. Lately I got hold of Revlon's Photoready cream blush in the shade Pinched, which is a beautiful peach, natural toned blush. It has a lovely texture and finish on the skin, and if you set this with powder it will stay put for ages! A much more natural, 'barely there' make-up look for summer.

Eyes:
Like with the cream blush, cream shadow is so much better for summertime because it has stronger staying power; powder has a greater tendency to melt off the skin, especially if you have oily eyelids like me! I have therefore been gravitating towards my favourite shades of Maybelline Color 24HR Tattoo cream shadows, in 'On and on Bronze' and 'Pink Gold'. The pigmentation in these is unbelievable and they look amazing on the eyes alone, or you can use these underneath eye shadow which will really help keep it in place all day long. Another I have been loving is the Rimmel Scandaleyes eye shadow stick in 'Bulletproof Beige'. This colour is so gorgeous because it is a super subtle beige, gold colour with soft shimmer, which makes this perfect for a natural look and also as a base for shadow. These are really easy to blend out with your fingers, and once in place they set and stay place for absolutely ages.
Another essential for summer in my opinion is waterproof mascara. This will ensure if you are swimming or just in the heat and you find that your eye make-up smudges, that this will stay put.  Although I absolutely adore Maybelline's The Falsies, I couldn't find a waterproof formula, but I have been loving Max Factor's Clump Defy waterproof version. This is super bulletproof, but it also gives a natural looking effect and is true to its name as being non clumpy which I think is perfect for summer because it doesn't actually look like you have loads of mascara on; just that you have lovely long lashes. 

Lips:

Bold lips is probably my favourite  trend for summer because I think it can transform a look and make it fun and edgy which is perfect for the laid-back style summer look which I love. I don't like super matte lips in the summer because it can be quite drying; I much prefer lips that are soft and moisturized with colour, hence Revlon's Lip Butters are perfect. They are super moisturising so you don't need balm, but I would advise wearing a lip balm with SPF because burning your lips is horrible. My favourite shades of the lip butters are 'Wild Watermelon' which is a beautiful red, coral tone with bright pink undertones, and 'Raspberry Pie' which is a pink fuchsia with a hint of purple if you build it up. What I love about these is that you can apply only a  bit and blend it out with your fingers to create a soft stain and hint of colour, or you can build them up to create the same effect as a bold lipstick, but with these you have the benefit of having soft, hydrated lips too. 

Summer is probably the only time of year when I wear lip gloss  I'm much more of a lipstick girl, but in summer I think gloss is beautiful. I have been using this gorgeous pink gloss with hints of gold shimmer from Model co, courtesy of Glamour magazine this month, so get your hands on it because it is such a steal! It is not too sticky; one of the reasons I dislike gloss most of the time is because of the glossy texture that always sticks to my hair!

What have your been loving for summer?

xox

Adding To The Collection: Lipsticks

(Wild Watermelon, Wild Rose, Cameo)

If there is one thing I cannot resist in terms of make-up, it has to be lipstick. I have so many lipsticks that they take up their own cosmetics bag, and yet I still continue to buy more! This week I brought 3 gorgeous shades that I would thought I'd share with you all; they are all perfect for spring, and surely everyone loves to rock an awesome spring lipstick?

1. Revlon Colorburst Lip Butter in 063 Wild Watermelon: 

This is one of their brand new shades for their spring collection, and I was immediately drawn to the bright red colour with hints of orange. I absolutely adore the formulation of these lip butters as they are so moisturising, you don't need a balm on afterwards or even before which is great. What is especially love is the sheerness of colour which I think is ideal for the spring/summer period when you don't always want to wear thick, heavy matte lipstick. It is super light but the pigmentation in Wild Watermelon is really good, even though it is sheer. It therefore adds a fairly natural burst of colour whilst still keeping them soft and hydrated. This colour does look a little bold straight from the tube, but on the lips it is really soft, yet you can build it up if you want a stronger colour. These lip butters are available in four new spring shades if your looking to try something a little fresher for spring, priced at £7.99. 

2. Bobbi Brown Rich Lip Colour in 26 Wild Rose:

This shade from Bobbi Brown is my absolute perfect every day pink-toned lipstick. Although it shows up super vibrant and pink on the top picture (with flash), the swatch of it is a more accurate idea of the colour. It is a brown-toned pink shade which makes it flattering on all skin tones, and really strongly pigmented so you do get a strong burst of colour. Despite this high pigmentation  this formula is by no means drying on the lips and is incredibly long lasting. What I also love about Bobbi Brown lipstick is they all have SPF 12 which is crucial during the summer months. Although I picked this up at Cheshire Oaks outlet mall for around £12, the normal retail price of Bobbi Brown lipstick is £18. 

3. No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Cameo:

I constantly receive No7 make-up vouchers from Boots, so every time I normally pick out a new lipstick. I was drawn to Cameo because the blue-toned pink was something I don't actually own already, and it is packed with metallic shimmer which is so perfect for spring. This shade has hints of lilac which I think is really pretty, however if you have super pale skin I would probably stay clear of this because it would wash you out completely. I think this would look gorgeous with a tan which was one of the reasons I got it, I think it is perfect for summer. I love No7 lipsticks because they are incredibly moisturising; they don't dry my lips out at all and I don't even have to use balm afterwards. They are really pigmented but you can keep building it up for a really vivid colour that will also last for ages. No7 lipsticks are £9.50 from Boots.

What spring/summer lipsticks have you guys been loving recently?

xxx