Skinature's Jasmine Flower Bath Oil

This week I have been trying out Skinature's bath and body oil in the scent jasmine flower. The first thing that struck me about this product was the sweet-scented jasmine aroma which is lovely. Not only does it smell fragrant whilst applying, but the scent lingers around for hours after, even waking up with a faint trace. I put a few drops into a warm bath for a relaxing bath-time treat, and also applied this to damp skin as a post-bath moisturiser to lock in moisture. What's great about this product is that you don't need an excessive amount, a few drops are enough to leave you with really smooth and toned skin. I expected this product to leave a greasy residue due to its oily formula, but it is not overly greasy at all which is great as you don’t have to wait around for ages for it to dry. Moreover, this product is completely natural and paraben free, and feels really luxurious to use as part of your bath-time routine. Overall, I would happily give this product 4/5 stars, and will definitely continue using this as part of my regime. You can get hold of Skinature products directly from their website here.

Mauve It Over: The Perfect Nude

Nude lipstick has been the one shade I have always shied away from. From past experience it has made me look washed out, pale and dull. This nude however, from Revlon, is the perfect shade for me as it is more brown toned and much less deathly pale. Instead of making you look like your lips completely fade into your complexion, it brightens your look and gives a much warmer quality to your make up. I think this is the perfect kind of every day shade that can be worn with any simple make up look, yet would also pair perfectly with a really smoky eye. The key with nude shades is to be careful and always go with something that suits you skin tone. If you are pale then I would avoid super pale nude shades without hints of pink or peach in them. Mauve it Over is absolutely perfect for fair to medium skin as it adds a hint of colour instead of a standard nude washout shade. Moreover, the formula of Revlon's Super Lustrous lipsticks is great. It is completely matte so it really sticks around, yet doesn't dry out your lips. It is a winner all round and a great staple in your collection.

xox

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 Summer Playlist #2

Seen as I am luckily going on holiday this week, I thought I would put together another summer playlist of all the jams I am loving and will be listening to in the sun this month. Most of these are current releases that you will no doubt have heard already, but there are a few old gems in there that I can't get enough of. I recently worked V festival and ever since I have rediscovered The Killers and Justin Timberlake. You can see my previous playlist here. 

Hope you are all having a wonderful summer, enjoy this playlist and feel free to give me more suggestions! 

Tanya Burr Lip Gloss Review

I was delighted to hear when one of the most-loved Youtubers, Tanya Burr, brought out her own products, and I was eager to test them right away. These were the first two shades I could grab hold of due to the range's immense popularity, and they were not my first choice but I really wanted to try them. Nevertheless, I have to say they really are lovely. As lip glosses go, they are not super sticky and any tacky feeling seems to fade, leaving a lovely glossy finish. They have great pigment considering they are light shades, hence I can imagine the darker shades would look incredibly pigmented and vibrant. Moreover, they smell of a delicious strawberry scent, good enough to eat. The applicator is nice and chunky which means they are really quick to apply and only one coat is needed. 

First Date is a beautiful baby pink shade which is really natural. It goes on nice and opaque so you don't need a lipstick underneath which is great as a lot of glosses tend to be more on the transparent side, aimed to be layered on top of a colour to add dimension. This gloss however is the best of both worlds; colour and shine. This shade is ideal for everyday wear, or would look divine with a dark smoky eye.
The other shade I've tried is Smile, Dream, Sparkle which is more of a typical gloss as it doesn't have much colour, instead it is super sparkly as its name suggests. I think this one looks super pretty layered over a pink lipstick, but again it looks beautiful and subtle on its own. This is a great one for summer due to its super glossy, sparkly finish.
You can get hold of these from Superdrug or FeelUnique for £6.99.

Have you guys tried any from Tanya's range? What are your favourite shades?

xox

The Perfect Bronzer: The Body Shop Honey Bronze

This is one of those rare products that I discovered before the hype. I remember buying this in December when I had a serious shopping problem thinking I had too much loan (I didn't). I purchased this on a slight whim after hearing one of my favourite Youtubers, Essie Button, rave about how great this was for pale skin. I loved how much lighter it looked in comparison to most bronzers which made me think it would be super natural, which it certainly is. The best thing about this bronzer is that it is 100% matte and all the shades are relatively light which combined, create the most natural bronzed effect. It is not orange in the slightest and even the darkest of the four shades is a natural deep tan shade. I would recommend getting the shade 3, medium matte unless you have super fair skin. This is the one I use and it consistently gives me a bronzed sun kissed glow which looks like I've been on holiday instead of loading up on the bronzer. I reach for this everyday above any other; it really is the perfect shade and texture which gives the most natural, healthy finish. It is certainly well-loved and I have almost hit pan on it and most of the embossing has been worn over which proves just how great it is as I usually get bored of one product and switch it up relatively quickly. This product is certainly worth the hype it is receiving lately and is well worth it's £13 price tag. Moreover, the embossed honey packaging is lush and gives the product a more luxurious feel which, paired with the amazing formula, it really looks like a high end product akin to the likes of Clarins or Guerlain. It is the best product for a natural, subtle contour and a natural all over finish.

Have you guys tried this product or any other similar bronzer?

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

The Brow Edit #2

 

One of my very first and most popular posts to date was a guide to perfecting brows, which is still available to view here. A lot has changed since then as brows take time to get right and are the one feature that I really feel can make the biggest difference. Brows are probably my most prominent feature as they are naturally quite strong and dark, and need regular maintenance. If my brows are undone my whole face looks different and I feel completely naked. I love a naturally strong brow that has not been overworked. I think it is important that brows still look like brows, i.e with hair intact, as opposed to appearing as if they have been completely drawn on from scratch. Of course, if you do not have super strong brows already you can still create the illusion with some practice. 

Eyebrows frame your eyes and enhance them further, so it is something important to get absolutely right as it can really transform your appearance. Defined brows just make everything appear neater and more polished. I think well-groomed brows can also make you look older in a more mature kind of way, a great way to look more sophisticated. Personally, I have always dealt with mine myself which has been a long process to get them to the stage where I am happy with. I dealt with mine myself because back in the day I had no clue what I was doing and then over-plucked. I also was not aware of things like threading/waxing. However, If you have never messed about with your brows before and would like them shaped, I would advise visiting a professional to get a good shape initially, which you can then try and maintain. I have heard great things about threading, but have never tried it myself although I am intrigued. I stick to tweezing now that I am happy with my natural shape, but waxing and threading is a good way to start. The most important thing is to avoid the temptation of over-plucking as your brows may never grow back in the same way. Take it from me, thick brows are a blessing but do require some maintenance. 

Here is how I fill in my brows on the regular basis. I usually move on to brows after my base make-up is in place as I instantly feel more ready with my brows complete. I start by brushing them upwards and then across to find their natural shape. In doing so, you can also see any pesky hairs underneath the brow that need tweezing. (Note: don't pluck above the brow!) 

For ages now I have been using Beauty UK's High Brow kit. This is the perfect all in one brow kit, complete with an array of 3 powder shades ranging from light brown to almost black, a wax, and also tweezers and a duo-sided applicator. I found this in Superdrug and it instantly struck me as a bit of a dupe for the likes of that from Sleek, a popular favourite among here. What is absolutely amazing is that this kit is only £3.99, which is unbelievable value for money. This Beauty UK kit is great if you are on a budget. I find powder is best suited to me because I have a lot of brow hair already so only really need a touch up, whereas pencils are great to give the illusion of more hair. First, I use the wax to set the brows in their natural shape. I then go in with the lightest shade and use this throughout with an angled brush from Real Techniques. You want to go in light, feathery upward strokes, gently filling in any sparse areas . I then use the darker brown shade more on the underneath of the brow to add definition. I take the brow up to its arched point, and then extend this down to the tail end to create a defined arch. Finally I set my brows with Maybelline's Brow Mascara to add texture to the hair and to ultimately keep the brows intact. I find that my brows do not budge whatsoever by using both the wax and this gel. When I go on to do my eyes, I highlight under the brow  with a light cream shade, something akin to Foxy from the Naked 2 palette. This will simply raise the brow and emphasize the arch. 

In terms of upkeep, once you are happy with your shape it's easy to maintain. Tweezerman tweezers are the best by a long shot. They are super precise and manage to get hairs that are so tiny that they have only just come through, and almost never miss. If you ever have really long, wild hairs that simply get in the way, instead of plucking, carefully go in with nail scissors, cutting at an angle to tidy things up. 

Here's some browspiration to leave you with!

I hope you found this post useful/interesting, what are your brow savior products?

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

Summer Lipstick Picks

Now I am a fan of a bold lip pretty much all year round, but summer is certainly the best time to try a more adventurous bright lip as it is always on trend. These are my pick of the best daring shades to really make you stand out this season. The Revlon colorburst lip butters are pretty much a firm favourite with most beauty junkies. They are the perfect combination of a lipstick and balm; good enough colour pay off yet still moisturizing which is why they are perfect for summer. My favourite summer shade is 063 Wild Watermelon, a really nice muted red that borderlines the pink shade of things. It is really easy to apply, just like a balm and has fairly good staying power too, leaving your lips with a glossy finish which I love for summer. Another winner from Revlon is a firm love of mine, Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in the shade 020 Lovesick. This is one of the best staying lip products I have ever came across,(there is still a mark on my arm where I struggled to get all this swatch off). I wore this non stop on holiday of an evening and didn't even have to take it out with me to top up. The bright fuchsia is just perfect for this season, not to mention how great it compliments a tan. Next is a shade that I am only brave enough to wear this season, Maybelline's colorsensational in 902 Fuchsia Flash. It is the brightest of pinks, much more Barbie than lovesick which is why I find it less wearable. It is super pigmented however and lasts a long time too, not to mention how amazing these lipsticks smell! Another favourite again comes from Revlon, and it is their lip gloss in the shade 046 Sizzle, a great orange shade which is still quite wearable as it verges on the red side of things. I love wearing this over the top of a bright coral or red shade to really make it stand out. These lip glosses from Revlon have amazing pigment for a lip gloss, albeit they are slightly sticky. Next is Max Factor in the shade 830 Dusky Rose, a muted pink with shimmer which again, looks wonderful with tanned skin. I adore Max Factor lipsticks because they are extremely creamy in formula, not at all drying and they last a long time with a finish that is not at all matte which I quite like for summer. Finally is a super bold shade from Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate, in the shade 110. This is a shockingly bright coral red, which again I find looks at its best with a tanned glow. I wore this non stop on my holiday as I feel it brightens up any look, even if you have fairly downplayed makeup this will make you stand out. These matte lipsticks also have unbelievable staying power which i find to be one of the most important factors of a summer lipstick. This shade looks beautiful paired with the lip gloss in Sizzle. 

xox

The Summer Playlist

Needless to say, I am a major music fan and I thought it would be a good idea to share all the songs that I cannot stop listening to this summer. I recently went on a gals holiday to Malia and these songs compiled my holiday playlist; some of my favourite current songs which really remind me of being on holiday, or just that feel good summer feeling in general. I defy anybody to listen to this playlist and not feel in a good summer mood- especially cruise which is my all time favourite feel good jam! Hope you enjoy, and are having a wonderful summer.

xox

Breakfast In Bed

I had been lusting after Rita Ora's nail polish collection for Rimmel for so long, and this shade 'Breakfast In Bed' was top of my list. I would class this shade as mint green, borderline baby blue. It appears more like a pastel mint in person than it translates in these photos, but nonetheless is a beautiful spring shade. Mint green nails are my ultimate favourite, and what could be more apt for spring? This shade is particularly beautiful as it has a really subtle shimmer running through it to create a really pretty effect. I painted my nails on Saturday and took these photographs today- there are no chips as of yet which is pretty great. I love the colour range and they do dry really fast, but I would apply a second coat even though it claims to need one coat only. My only problem was that I found the formula a little thick in applying two coats to the point where it messed up the previous coat if you know what I mean? It looks pretty good once dry though so I wouldn't bypass these. I also picked up the shade 'White Hot Love' which I can't wait to try as I adore white nails so much, especially this season. 

Have you guys tried any of Rita's collection?

xox

Bronze Smoky Eye

One of my favourite looks from the Naked 3 palette is a golden bronze smoky eye. I think this look is particularly gorgeous because it is quite different to the more pinky toned shades in the palette, yet is still just as soft and pretty. To begin I used one of my favourite eye products ever, everyone's favourite Maybelline's colour tattoo in 'On and On Bronze'. I then swept the shade 'factory' all over the lid and up to the crease. I then used 'darkside' to blend into the crease and paying attention to the outer corner to create an extended effect. Then just clean everything up with a cotton bud to even out and make sure there are no harsh lines or fall out. I then went in with 'mugshot' blending this into the centre of the lid. On a small brush I mixed shades 'factory' and 'darkside' gently under the lower lashline to balance everything out. As a highlight, instead of using something cream toned as I usually opt, I went for the copper gold shade 'trick' to still draw attention to this part of the eye and make the eye look wider. As these shadows can produce some fall out, especially 'trick' which is super glittery, I would advise following up with concealer after the eye make-up as opposed to doing it before so you don't ruin your face make-up. As standard I went in with two trusty favourites, my collection liquid liner and Maybelline The Rocket mascara.

Hope you like the look, and what are your favourite looks from the Naked 3 palette?

xox

Miracle Product- Invisibobble: The Traceless Hair Ring

I first discovered the magic of Invisibobble in Glamour magazine, in which they mentioned this miraculous radical new product which was available in a beauty box. When I found out that it was stocked in Boots, I had to check it out. I have naturally quite long, thick hair which means when I have it high on my head, it weighs it down quite a lot to the point where it hurts. Even worse, when I take my hair out it is always kinked. Invisibobble however claimed not to do this, claiming that it is traceless, avoids headaches, no split ends, and yet still creates a strong grip to keep your hair intact all day. I have to say this product has proved to fulfill all of these promises. It is certainly traceless and does not leave a kink, if I straighten my hair and then tie it back, later when I let it down it is still perfectly straight which saves time and effort when doing hair. I have no idea how it works as by the look of it, it looks like it would kink your hair like mad, but I was reading the science behind it and 

"the secret to invisibobble’s traceless outcome lies in its peculiar telephone cord shape. When it is wrapped around the hair, it places uneven pressure around the circumference of the ponytail; standard hair rings put even pressure on the hair, leaving an obvious mark. The uneven pressure produced by invisibobbles allows for the hair to be held strongly in the ponytail without being too tight. This gives individual hairs more space within the ponytail than they would have when wearing a normal hair band."

Invisibobble is £3.75 at Boots and comes with 3 hair rings. 

It is also available through Feelunique for the same price, and comes in a variety of different shades. I guarantee once you try this you will say farewell to standard hair ties! Have you guys tried/heard of Invisibobble?

xox

Spring Wishlist

My wishlist is never exactly empty, but lately for spring there is just so much out there that I had to compose a list. A lot of these are products which I have heard so much about that I feel I ought to try them, such as Sleek's brow kit which is so popular that it is almost always sold out, and the Stila palette which I have been putting off getting because let's face it, I don't really need it, but it would be so pretty for spring! Above all, I am absolutely in love with this tropical dress, I think it is just so perfect for this season and it makes me so excited for summer just looking at it. As for the make-up items, there is always something I have my eye on and above all is this beautiful nail polish which just screams spring, and the Rita Ora collection for Rimmel is just gorgeous. I am also thrilled to learn that Next now stock NYX which is fantastic if your like me and have wanted to try their hyped up products for ages. As for more lip products, I have swatched the shade 'in love with ginger' so many times and each time I just think it is the perfect orange-toned red which is so apt for summer, and I can't wait to try out some of Tanya Burr's lip glosses, this shade being particularly lust worthy.

1. Sleek brow kit, £8.49
2. Stila 'In The Light' shadow palette, £25
3. Barbie tee, Forever 21, £10.50
4. Tanya Burr lip gloss in 'Picnic in the Park', £6.99
5. Topshop Island print dress, £32
6. Beyonce Surfboard sweater, $65
7. NYX lip gloss in 'beige', £6 available at Next
8. Rimmel 60 seconds Rita Ora nail polish in 'Breakfast in Bed', £3.69
9. Rimmel moisture renew lipstick in 'In Love With Ginger', £6.49

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

Barry M Gelly Nail Paint: 'Rose Hip'

If you haven't yet tried any of the Gelly range from Barry M, they have just brought out lots of new stunning colors perfect for this season. On one of my recent trips to Superdrug I came across this little beauty from Barry M. In terms of nail polish, for me I always revert back to Barry M, and especially this Gelly range which is seriously unbeatable stuff; super opaque after two coats, totally non gloopy, excellent shine and staying power. This shade immediately grabbed me as I found it to be incredibly similar to Essie's highly popular 'Figi'. For me, this is the perfect pink pastel neutral shade for spring and summer which I find so sophisticated and classic. It is the kind of shade to put on when you don't quite know which to choose, knowing that this beauty will most likely match anything. Due to the glossy formula, a top coat is not necessary as it provides a super shiny finish which lasts; I have been sporting this for around 4 days now with seriously no chips. I will be wearing this all throughout spring and I'm even considering this to be my holiday nail color. What's more, the name is seriously cute. At just £3.99 for what is essentially, a beautiful color and a top coat, this is seriously purse friendly and I'm already eyeing up the rest of the range which is simply stunning. This season also focuses on matching nails and lips, and this pink neutral shade is easily matched with minimal effort to be seriously on trend.

XO