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

February Favourites

Hey guys!

I'm very excited to be doing my first ever monthly favorites post! I know how popular they are on the blogging circuit and enjoy reading them a lot myself; they are a great way of finding out which products are worthy of testing and repurchasing again and again, a great excuse for buying more products because of how amazing they are! This month I have been reaching for the same products over again, some newly purchased ones and others which I have simply rediscovered. These are products which I honestly can't recommend enough and are true staples in my beauty kit. Hope you enjoy this new kind of post!

Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine- this has been a firm favorite of mine ever since I tried it a few weeks back, but I have been using it non stop this month. The reason this is better than the average lip balm is due to its consistency, its a butter as opposed to a balm therefore it really moisturizes your lips a lot better, just like a body butter would do to your skin. There are other flavors available but this one is my favorite as it smells incredible. I will definitely have to repurchase this again as mine is quickly running out! You can see my full review on it here. 

Soap & Glory Hand Food- For some reason my hands have been particularly dry lately, so I have been reaching for this all the time. First of all, it smells unbelievable just like all the other products by Soap & Glory- one of the reasons I love them so much! If you haven't smelt it I would strongly advise you do. What's more, it does the job perfectly and helps keep hands permanently smooth if you apply frequently enough.

Urban Decay Naked Palette- I simply could not have a favorites post and not include this. I've used this trusty old palette for literally every party I've been too, especially this month, and the lighter shades are great for creating natural everyday looks. There are so many looks you can create, it is such a versatile investment that I would seriously recommend. I don't know how I coped without this for so long as it instantly became one of my favorite beauty products ever! All my other eye shadows have been seriously neglected ever since this came into my life. Enough said, you can read my in-depth review here. 

No7 Lash & Brow Perfector- Recently I have been trying to grow out my brows slightly, so this brow gel has really been indispensable, particularly in taming those unruly hairs (typically just above the arch). I apply this just after grooming them, and before filling them in with powder. It is great for perfecting your ideal shape, and makes it easy to fill them in as you follow your natural shaping. It keeps them in place, yet it doesn't stiffen them too much that they look unnatural. You can view my brow perfecting guide here. 

L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes Mascara- This is a product that I forgot I had completely so stopped using it for a while. I rediscovered it the other day, thinking it was used up, but to my surprise it was still usable so I have been using this ever since. I really love the brush to this because it has an anti-clump wiper so you don't get that overdone, clumpy and fake look which can be common with many mascaras. It therefore creates really long, but separated even lashes with an ultra black coating. The brush is also really handy for bottom lashes which is great, the MAC mascara I normally use has a brush which is so big that I have to use a different mascara for the bottom lashes. Great mascara, I would particularly recommend and L'Oreal mascara if your on the hunt for a new one. 

Eylure 'The Chelsea Look'- Before using these lashes putting on false eyelashes was an absolute pain. These ones by Eylure are super easy to apply; they go on really smoothly without pinging up either side which can be so annoying! This particular lash style is probably my favorite lash, I only wear them for going out in the evening because they are quite dramatic, however not so much as to look overpowering or fake. They are my go-to party lash, instantly adding drama to your eyes and making them appear much bigger. 

 Real Techniques Expert Face Brush- This is a brush which I brought last week and ever since, this has truly enhanced my foundation and made application so much quicker and easier. I love the roundness of this brush for applying a flawless base as I previously used an angled brush, however this gives you the chance to really buff the product into the skin in a circular motion, getting into every crevice in the skin thereby giving you better coverage and a more radiant appearance. I think almost every beauty blogger owns these brushes, and I can see why! They really create that flawless base which transforms your whole look. Having the base sorted is what I think is the most crucial stage of make-up application; it just makes your skin look fresher and more radiant if you have your foundation buffed in beautifully. 

Sleek Blush in Pomegranate- This is another product which I rediscovered this month as I had been so used to using my trusty Rimmel Pink Rose. That however, sadly ran out so I found this. The colour looks a little garish and scary straight from the pan, however this creates the most pretty effect on the skin. The rich purple shade is actually quite soft if you only apply a small amount, and it also leaves a slight shimmer to the skin.  New favorite blush for sure, and what's more is that it suits all skin tones so is a great staple blush. 

 (Celestial)

(Waterlily, Rebel, Celestial)

No7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Waterlily- This is basically a gorgeous, everyday muted bright pink. It is a really wearable shade so I have been wearing this constantly, it goes with every look so it is a great one to have in your everyday make up bag. 

MAC's Rebel Lipstick- I love this shade so much. You can check out my previous post for a full review, but this is essentially my favorite lipstick ever. It is the most beautiful dark pink, to purple shade with a Satin smooth finish. It creates a great statement for an evening out, instantly drawing attention to you. Furthermore  MAC lipsticks are super great quality with excellent pigmentation meaning they stay put for the entire night, not something every brand can boast about. 

Rimmel Apocalips in Celestial- This is probably my favorite February favorite. I purchased this last week and have been wearing it almost every day since. I had been dying to get my hands on them ever since, because so many beauty bloggers have raved about them. If you haven't heard about them they are are glossy formula, yet they still manage to contain the same pigmentation as a lipstick. This means they have really great staying power which is unusual for a regular gloss. This however is by no means a regular lip product, as it somewhere in between the two best formulas. There is also none of that dreaded hair and gloss sticky mess as these are completely nonstick! Celestial is the perfect shade for me, a gorgeous neutral pink which is perfect for every day. If you haven't tried them, go try them now. 

What products have you been loving this month?

xxxx

Rebel: Dangerous Look

I had been waiting to get my hands on 'Rebel' by MAC for absolutely ages. It is such a popular colour that whenever it is in stock, it seems to sell out, so I was overjoyed yesterday when I finally got it. For me this is my favorite shade imaginable. I always prefer darker toned lipsticks because I think they are much more flattering on my skin tone, so I am always intrinsically drawn towards plum tones like this. It was also my first proper MAC lipstick purchase (gasp). I have always thought that they are rather pricey for lipstick, considering the amount of good dupes on the high street, (I hear Topshop lipstick is almost exactly the same). But I finally gave in because this shade is unlike anything else I have and I know I will wear it all the time.

 Rebel is a deep, rich purple with hints of creamy pink underneath, so it's not too vampy. It is such a statement lipstick and you can't be a wallflower if you have this on so it gives you added confidence. It is one of those rare shades that really makes you feel glamorous and sophisticated. It is such a gorgeous sultry shade, particularly flattering on pale skin tones I think as it really heightens your lip colour. I also tried the matching lip pencil and the lipglass of the same name; I had to stop myself from buying both! I think the matte finish of the lipstick works well on its own, although it did look fabulous with the gloss on top.

 Rebel has a satin formula which makes it quite moisturising on the lips and it leaves a slight shiny appearance. After this was applied on me in the store, It was still looking almost perfect by the time I was ready to apply my make-up for the evening. You don't need to build it up too much like some lipsticks as the colour pigmentation is great, although the satin affect wears off, the vivid purple plum colour stays on all evening, I didn't have to reapply once and that's after eating and drinking too! This almost dangerous colour is right on trend at the moment, its such an amazing shade and has quickly become my favorite ever ever. 

Because this is such a bold, diva like shade, I had to stop myself from going crazy on the eyes too. I wanted the lips to be the main focus of the look, so I simply used the two lightest shades in my Urban Decay Naked palette, Virgin and Sin. I layered these across the lid, with slight contouring in the outer corners for definition. I went for my trusty winged eye liner look, using my favorite Maybelline one. I layered mascara and then applied false lashes to complete the look. 

Have you guys tried Rebel or know any similar shades?
xxx

How to be a Heartbreaker- Valentines Day Make-up look

Hey guys! I would just like to apologize in advance for the length of this post- but this is one of my favorite make-up looks ever and I can't wait to share it with you. Its also very theme appropriate seen as its Valentine's day tomorrow, its a great look to wear wherever and whoever you will spend it with. Marina and The Diamonds is one of my favorite music artists ever, and her make-up in her video for 'How to be a Heartbreaker' is absolutely divine. She has a few looks in the video but the one I recreated is my personal favorite (above). It is actually quite a simply look with the main focus being the eyes (hence the following abundance of eye closeups!) paired with neutral pink lips and bronzed skin. 

For the all important eyes I used my Urban Decay Naked original palette, which has become a firm favorite in my make-up kit (see my full review here). When using this palette only I also know that I don't have to use a primer underneath as the eye shadows seem to really stay place on me, however of course, if they don't I would recommend a primer. First take the lightest colour, 'Virgin' which is such a beautiful pale pink, off-white shimmery highlighter. Apply this across the entire lid, right up to the brow bone as we want particular shimmer here. Then apply a slightly darker shade, 'Sin', in the middle of the lid to add a bit more depth here and create an illusion of a bigger eye, a good trick also if you have hooded eyes like me. Then I mixed together a bit of 'Sidecar' and 'Hustle' and placed this on the outer corner and through the crease. I took this higher than my usual crease as this is how Marina wears it in this shot, which further creates the illusion of a much larger eye. You should therefore take 'Hustle' quite high up and into the crease, quite deep into the socket. The next step is to blend, A LOT. When you wear quite a heavy eye make-up like this, it is best to have a few clean brushes handy so you can switch. If you carry on using one with a lot of product on this will just smudge as opposed to blending. Also keep a tissue handy so you can wipe off the excess product, saving you from using a lot of brushes which not everyone may have. Once this is blended enough to look fairly soft, take Virgin again on the brow bone to blend into the darkest colour, and take a fair bit into the tear-duct to accentuate and brighten the eye, making the look a lot softer.Then find a narrow brush and, blending together 'Hustle' and 'Sidecar', take under the eye halfway and blend. This is the shadow part done, now you need to take your favorite gel eyeliner as this is one of Marina's staples. Try and get your line as thin as possible, with the line slightly thicker in the center to follow the natural shape of your eye. Then wing out slightly to a point, joining up with your bottom lash line. You can also use a brown kohl pencil to line your bottom waterline. Then apply absolute lashings of mascara, particularly on your lower lashes as this is a real feature of Marina's look. She wears individual false lashes on the lower lash line, however I have tried to create this effect using mascara. I then took some MAC lashes that I cut slightly shorter than the usual lash length to just attach to the end of the eye and create a flared, winged out look, as Marina's top lashes are not overly heavy. Team this with super defined, dark strong brows like Marina's and keep them in shape with some brow gel. 
Finally, use the gel liner to create Marina's signature heart on your left cheek if you wish!

Finish off the look with sculpted cheeks and an all over bronzed glow using the excess on your temples, forehead and nose. Then use a super pretty pale blush to add a slight dash of colour- Sleek's Pixie Pink is perfect for this. Skip the highlighter as the eyes are the main feature and Marina's skin looks more matte than glowy. Use your favorite nude pink lipstick for a subtle finish to the look; I used a nude MAC lipglass over a Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in shade 'Sky Line Pink'. 

xxx

Last Night's Make-Up

Last night I went to an 18th party and thought it would be a good opportunity to use my brand new Urban Decay Naked original palette. I had been lusting after this cult product for months but finally decided to 'invest' in it (review coming soon). I love this palette simply because it has all the shades that I  personally would ever need. I much prefer muted nude and brown tones as opposed to bright colours, all though of course they are always fun to try out too. 

I decided to use three of the colours which instantly stood out for me: 

'Half Baked'

'Smog'

'Dark Horse'

Over lashings of primer I applied 'Half Baked' across the entire lid, taking it quite high above the crease. I then took the colour 'Smog' and applied this through the crease, and winging out slightly. I then blended this thoroughly as to avoid any harsh lines, and then took the darkest shade of the three 'Dark Horse' to darken the crease further, thus creating more depth to the eye, thus making them appear slighting larger. I then blended 'Smog' and 'Dark Horse' together and took this under the eye slightly, making sure to join this with the slight winged out shadow from the crease. An almost sideways triangle is created but it is key to blend this so it fades out and is not as harsh. I blended all three colours seamlessly, and then took the shade 'Virgin' which is the lightest in the palette and thus makes the most beautiful highlighter ever. It is an off-white shade, with flecks of pale pink sparkle which really creates a strong highlight- perfect for the brown bone. I dusted this across the brow bone and then blended one last time so it faded into the darkest colour. I then added a slight bit of 'Virgin' across the tear-duct to open and enhance the eye. I then of course, applied a subtle stroke of my trusty Maybelline gel liner across the top lash line, layered on a thick coat of my Opulash Optimum Black Mascara by MAC, and then used some ultra-thick false lashes by Eylure to top of this look.

I know many of you have the Naked palette so would be interested to know if you love it as much as I do even after one use! I know there are so many looks that can be created with it which is really exciting!

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. 

Brown Smokey Eye Look

Hey guys!

So last night I went to a friend's 18th party, and I thought it was a great opportunity to wear my favorite evening make up look ever- a classic brown smokey eye. I think this look is a brilliant take on the smokey eye because it is a lot less intense than the conventional black, a lot more subtle and glamorous, very much in the style of Kim Kardashian I think!

This look is all centered around the eye, complemented with flawless skin, bronzed sculpted cheeks and a paired nude lip.

To get this look I used the following products (In order of applying):

• No7 mousse foundation (discontinued- sorry!)
• Lacura concealer pen and Rimmel hide the blemish concealer 
• No7 translucent powder and Rimmel stay matte powder 
• MUA brown shadow in shade 19 for brows
• Frontcover eye primer
• MUA palette in 'Heaven and Earth'- (third shade bottom row), (first shade top row)
• No7 palette brown metallic shade
• Maybelline gel liner
• Max Factor liquid effect eye pencil in 'Brown Blaze'
• MAC Opulash mascara
• No7 mini mascara for bottom lashes
• Sleek blusher in 'Sahara'
• Sleek blusher in 'Pixie Pink'
• Benefit High Beam
• Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in shade 'Sky Line Pink'
• Soap and Glory 'Sexy Mother Pucker' clear lipgloss

OR///

• Rimmel lipstick in 'Diva Red'

For the eyes, the first step for any eye make up look using a lot of shadow, is to prime. This is a really important step to stop your eye shadow from slipping and creasing, especially if you have oily eyelids. I would like to point out that my eye make up stayed on all night right up until I took it off, still looking perfect thanks to the primer. I also think the MUA shadows are really good for staying put, and the price is insane at £4 for a palette of 12 shadows! After you've done this with your favorite primer (mine is from Frontcover cosmetics), layer the lightest colour of shadow all across the lid, taking it onto the tear duct, into the crease, and faintly up to the brow bone. Next, taking your dark brown shade, take this through the crease and out slightly. Then take a clean brush to blend so there is no harsh lines. Then apply a light shimmery colour on the brow bone, and blend again into the dark shadow to create a seamless effect. Taking this highlighter onto the tear duct will really bring out your eyes too. 

For bronzer, (I used a Sleek blusher), find the hollow of your cheeks- just below your cheekbone- and using light, circular motions blend onto the skin, taking care to not extend this line too much. Then pop a pretty light pink blusher (Pixie Pink is perfect for this) and put this on the apple of your cheeks, (the easiest way to find this is to smile, and its the most raised part) so you get a more natural combination of bronzer and colour.

I used a light lipstick for this look as I wanted the eyes to be the main focus, however it also suits a really chic bold red lip if you dare to do so, just make sure you wear it with confidence!

What's on my nails?

I applied this black nail varnish with this 'Yellow Topaz Glitter' as a top coat from Barry M, on New Years Eve. And it is still on! I think that's pretty impressive, it hasn't even chipped! This just goes to show that if you apply a top coat it really helps keep your polish intact for much longer. A pretty sparkly one like this also adds a new dimension to the nails, much more exciting than a clear one whilst still bringing the same glossy finish. 

 What is your favorite glamorous evening make up look?

xxx