Lipstick Haul

If there is one beauty product that I am in constant demand for, its lipstick. I love lipsticks because there are so many colour options these days, giving you the chance to experiment with different shades to change up your look. Lipstick can completely transform your look and that's what I love about it, and is probably why I have so many! Put these on over the winning combination of an exfoliating scrub following by a nourishing balm (see my last post), and your lips will look super luscious.

1. No7 Moisture Drench lipstick in shade 'Waterlily'

2. The Body Shop Delipscious sheer lip colour in shade 01

3. The Body Shop Delipscious shade 09

I was in desperate need of a natural pink lipstick that gave some added radiance to an everyday look. After much deliberation over which shade I went with 'Waterlily' by No7 because I have many of No7's moisture drench lipsticks and they are excellent quality and always have an incredibly diverse selection of colours. The texture is so creamy and just glides onto your lips, also moisturizing them whilst still managing to provide colour. The pigmentation in these is great, much like MAC's, and you can go for ages without the need to reapply. This shade also has slight shimmery particles, but they are not so noticeable which makes it perfect for that subtle everyday shade. This is going to be a permanent shade in my make up bag as it will go with practically everything. It also reminds me a lot of MAC's 'Chatterbox'- a pink shade that makes your lips look natural- but better. These No7 lipsticks are priced at £9.50 in all Boots stores.

Next I went into the body shop and found these sheer lip colours to be half price- that's only £3 instead of £6. However when I went in there was an offer which meant I got two gorgeous shades for £4- what a bargain! What I like about these shades is that they are completely sheer, so they add a touch of colour to your look without it being too overdone. I think these are a great product for every day use, making your lips super shiny with just a hint of natural colour. The formula of these is the texture of a lipstick, but they glide on like a soft buttery balm, with a slight glossy finish, ultra lightweight to wear. Although they are not vastly pigmented, they do have good staying power and offer the chance to wear colour that looks as though you are not wearing any! The first shade I picked out was this one below, a dark red with blue undertones. It looks much darker than it actually comes out due to the sheerness of it, but this just creates a softened look with a slight hint of colour. The next shade was this nude shade which I think is great to have in your make-up bag as a nude lip is always perfect to go with a stand out eye. It is much more matte in finish but still gives a slight glow to the lips. I think these colours and the formula of this brand is ideal for spring every day wear as they are not too overpowering and give you a radiant and healthy appearance, managing to perk up any seemingly dull look.

Shade 09

Shade 01

New lip products: Korres and Lush

Ever since I began blogging a few months back, I have enjoyed hearing so much about recommended products that have such a buzz surrounding them. Two of the most talked about products on the beauty blogging scene seem to be these two lip products: Bubblegum Lip Scrub from Lush, and Korres Lip Butter. Given the immense hype surrounding them, I thought I ought to try them and see if they really are worth the hype they are getting.

So first up is this exfoliating lip scrub from Lush. This is great for anyone who has dry skin on their lips, which I am prone to especially in these cold winter months! I wanted to try this out as sometimes a balm just doesn't do the job of removing that dry skin, which looks so undesirable and is particularly heightened when you wear lipstick. Seen as I'm such an avid lipstick wearer, I always try and make sure my lips are looking and feeling as smooth and as moisturized as possible. To begin with this product smells unbelievable. I can't even describe how good it smells unless you've tried it yourself. It is exactly like bubblegum and candy, super sweet and literally good enough to eat. As soon as I tried this for the first time, I noticed the dead skin cells peeled off right away, and with constant use this will seriously remove this problem altogether. However, as it is an exfoliating scrub and not an exfoliating balm, like one I have from Champneys, it tends to dry out your lips. This can be fixed no problem though of course, as you just put some balm on straight afterwards and your lips are super soft. I've heard some people say you just lick off the excess- which i'm sure is fine as the main ingredient is caster sugar. At £5.25, I would have normally said this is a little steep for a lip scrub however I do think it is worth the money, and certainly worth the hype. Other flavours are also available including Popcorn and Mint Julips. Bubblegum is my favorite however as the candy scent is literally unreal!

After using the gorgeous bubblegum scrub, using this lip butter from Korres is a winning combination. I heard so much about this but never knew where to find it, until I came across it on Feel Unique. At £6.30 I thought is this really worth it? What sets it apart from my any other lip balms, particularly my trusty Carmex and good old Vaseline. Well to begin with, it is not just a normal balm as it is a really hydrating lip butter, keeping your lips nourished for hours and acts as a great base for lip colour. It melts onto the lips and has such a thick, creamy texture that also adds a light shine and tinted finish. I chose the colour Jasmine, and like the Lush scrub, it smells unreal! It doesn't remind me of jasmine but it is such a sweet lovely smell. The combination of Shea butter and rice wax offers deep hydration and softness, making it perfect for chapped lips. What's more, the packaging is so adorable, containing two small boxes that slide into each other with the pot inside; I couldn't bring myself to throw it out! The only downside is the price which some may find a little pricey for a lip balm, and also the size of the pot is quite small and i'm already quite far down into mine. However I do think if you really suffer from chapped lips this is a great investment and definitely worth a try to see what everyone is talking about. 

***

Have you guys tried these products?

xxx

Alternative Smokey Eye

Taken END of the night- thanks primer!

***

Hey guys!

Last night I went to another 18th party, so I thought it would be a great chance to wear a livelier take on my favorite smokey eye look. I also had the perfect blue dress ever, but didn't want to just use a boring blue shadow. Therefore I teamed it with the most beautiful green shadow, and electric purple through the crease to really enhance my eyes and make them stand out. 

Eye shadows used:

MAC Mega Metal Shadow in 'Ego' 

Famous by Sue Moxley purple eye shadow shimmer in shade 12

To get this eye look I used a simple navy base, (on top of a good primer of course), and then I took the green across the lid, winging out slightly. I then took the purple through the crease and winged out, blending with the two colours. Blending for any smokey eye is absolute key as you don't want any harsh lines; you want the colours to jut fade into each other. The easiest way to do this is to take a clean brush and just blend outwards until your lines are even and not too severe. 'Ego' by MAC is literally my favorite shade ever. It is super pigmented and has great staying power. Its not a shade you can wear every day, but it makes a great evening look! Both shadows are also metallic with shimmer, therefore they work great together. Pair this with purple lips and a fantastic, dramatic and glamorous look is created. 

Cappuccino Nails

Seen as my last post was such a lengthy one, this is just a quick nail look which I have been loving at the moment. I think it is such an ideal shade for this period, whilst we are coming to the end of winter, but not yet ready to sport the bright spring trends. From Barry M, this is in shade 341 entitled 'Cappuccino'. I would describe this unusual, muted shade as a neutral beige coffee colour, but with noticeable taints of lilac. After two coats however, the cappuccino colour really does come through. This makes it a bit different to a typical, somewhat dull beige, giving a bit of life to your fingertips. What I love most about this shade is how it will go with almost anything. I know I can wear this shade and feel free to match it with any outfit- always an added bonus! Barry M are renown for their nail polishes as they are always of such great quality and have such a diverse range of colours. The have excellent staying power and leave your nails chip free for weeks, especially if you add a topcoat over the top to seal it. What's more at £2.99 a bottle, these polishes are super inexpensive, making it incredibly easy to build an extensive collection!

***