REVIEW: Mac Pro Longwear Paint Pots

 MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots work as an excellent eyeshadow base and have been a particular god send in covering up veiny eyelids before eyeshadow application.

Longevity: Basically until I decide to take it off. Most days I have no creasing so long as I've sandwiched a lot of eyeshadow on top of the paint pots. I have tried both paint pots on their own without anything on top and they last about 3 hours before starting to crease in the inner corners. This is mostly down to my eye shape though.

Pigmentation: Both very pigmented as can be seen in the photographs. Soft Ochre has a strong yellow undertone which would be suitable for pale girls with warmer tones. Painterly is a beige pink which blends into my eyelids seamlessly and looks like I have nothing on!

 

Formulation: Paint Pots have a thick, creamy and highly pigmented formula which makes them ideal as eyeshadow bases as they create a clean canvas for you to work with. They blend very easily with fingers or a brush (I prefer fingers) and they are buildable to whatever coverage you prefer. Two thin layers usually does me fine.

MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pots retail for £15.50 from the MAC website

Pros:

Gives even coverage

Longlasting

Prevents eyeshadow creasing

Highly pigmented

Easily blendable

Buildable coverage

Lots of product

Cons:

Quite pricey

As you can see I find it really difficult to fault these products. They have truly changed the way I do my eye makeup now that I've found the perfect eye primer that not only helps eyeshadow stick but evens out skin tone too. I simply couldn't live without these for sure!

REVIEW: Rimmel Kate Moss Lipsticks

I felt compelled to write a proper review on the Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipsticks as I believe they are truly underrated and such a bargain find in any drugstore. The three colours I've got my hands on from L - R are:

01 - A blue-toned bright red that has excellent colour payoff and a lovely sheen to it. This colour makes your teeth look very white by the way!

03 - A true nude-beige that would probably flatter most skin tones but passes off as an excellent nude for fair skin tones.

101 - A matte cool-toned baby pink. The matte is mostly forgiving but the colour tends to emphasize dryness very slightly on the inner portion of the lips (as shown in the photo above)

What I love most about these lipsticks is their exceptional quality for the price. The formula is creamy in both the matte and original formulas, and they go on velvety-smooth on the lips which make them a total dream to use. The formula actually reminds me a lot of the MAC lipsticks in many ways. Firstly, the creaminess is very similar to that found in MAC lipsticks, and the matte formula is very forgiving on dry lips which is also similar. Secondly, the lipsticks wear off evenly and don't dry out the lips like some other drugstore lipsticks do. At least on my lips anyway! Finally, as someone with chronically dry lips I was so pleased to find out I could keep applying this lipstick all day whenever it wore off (which wasn't much) and I didn't have to moisturise or exfoliate my lips inbetween like I usually do.

To summarise, I think the Rimmel Kate Moss lipsticks are fantastic value for money and I will definitely be collecting more in the future!

You can purchase these lipsticks at Superdrug for £5.49 x

EBAY FINDS: Beautiful Makeup and Jewellery Storage

(Click each picture to go to Polyvore, and then follow Ebay link)

1. This jewellery tree is so elegant and feminine looking and is the perfect place to store your dangly earrings! I love the retro mint colour which would blend beautifully with other neutral or pastel colours.

2. I need this for my lipsticks! There really isn't any better way to show them off than to stand them all upright in this gorgeous acrylic lipstick holder. This storage holds 24 lipsticks and is priced at only £2.57!

3. Here is another stunning example of how you can store your earrings. I love the delicate, wispy look when you start adding all your own jewellery, and the small star on top is a cute touch.

4. This huge acrylic makeup storage set is so versatile with three storage compartments and an added set of trays on top. The possibilities are endless with this and it would look especially neat on top of my dressing table.

5. Another elegant jewellery holder with hooks for necklaces and plenty of earring holes. This would look stunning on my bedroom wall just above my dressing table. I always forget to put jewellery on in the morning so this wall hanging would be the perfect reminder!

6. Another huge acrylic makeup storage tray with a gorgeous black lining inside. The top even contains a build-in lipstick storage unit and tall compartments for larger products. Another stunning piece that would look great on my dressing table!

REVIEW: Makeup Revolution The One Blush Stick in 'Matte Malibu'

Well what do you know, another hit for Makeup Revolution! These Blush Sticks are a great dupe for the Nars Multiples by the way, which come in at almost £30. You can buy The One Blush Sticks for 1/6 of the price at £5.

I have been wanting the colour Malibu for quite some time and it was always sold out in my local Superdrug, which really highlights just how popular this shade is. My original intention was to use this colour as a contour but on second thoughts it is far too warm for this purpose. It does, however, make a gorgeous cream bronzer.

The pigmentation in these things is out. of. this. world, and a tiny bit can cover so much of your face. For this reason I would say that this Blush Stick could last you months potentially. The formula is super soft and really easy to blend and if used in moderation gives a really natural bronzed effect to very pale skin like mine. I can see this product being a favourite of mine over the summer when I want to look like I've had some sun!

REVIEW: Palmers Moisturizing Body Oil

I've been a fan of the Palmers range for quite some time now and I can often be found browsing the range in Boots or Superdrug to scout out what I haven't tried yet. This body oil caught my eye as it claims it can be used in the bath or shower which is ideal for me as I'm too lazy to use an all-over body moisturiser every night! I much prefer something like this that I can pop in the bath and come out feeling fully moisturised.

This body oil smells like the Palmers signature scent - soft, sweet cocoa that makes my mouth water. The scent in this oil isn't overpowering like some of their other products (which I totally don't mind anyway) but lingers softly and doesn't intrude at all. I put two cap fulls of this in my bath last night as recommended and the sweet smell filled the room. In the bath the oil sat gently on the skin without feeling heavy or greasy and the BEST thing about this product is that it didn't leave an oily ring around the bath like some other moisturising products do! (I'm looking at you, Lush!) 

For some stupid reason I decided to wash my hair in the same bath water and I inevitably had to wash it all over again as the oil greased my hair up magnificently. Not pretty. Next time I'll either use it in the shower or wash my hair separately. Doh. When I came out the bath my skin felt very silky, smooth and moisturised which I loved. It seemed to do wonders for my face too which looked super clean, soft and even in tone. This will definitely be featuring in all of my baths for the immediate future, especially if it means I can get away with not having to moisturise when I come out!

You don't have to use this oil in the bath or shower, you can apply it to the body too as an all-over body moisturiser. Doing it this way has a very similar effect and leaves a soft sheen on the skin that looks really lovely and sinks it quickly. You can buy it in Boots via this link for the bargain price of just £3.40!

MAC Matte Lipstick Swatches!

Okay, I have to confess. These are the first MAC lipsticks I've ever bought (The standard line anyway, I bought a cremesheen once!) It just so happens that they are all matte, which I didn't realise until I recieved them. I have a lipstick collection of a relatively decent size but I would genuinely replace everything in there for MAC lipsticks. Yes indeedy. Scroll down for lip swatches!

On the left we have Kinda Sexy and my favourite of the bunch. It's described by MAC as a "Neutral Pinky-Rose" and is matte in texture, but exceptionally creamy as anyone who owns MAC lipsticks will know! The wear time is amazing, I put it on at 7:30 this morning and checked again at around 1pm and it barely needed touched up at all. Truly amazing quality. I wore a Maybelline lipliner on my lips with this in the colour Sweet Pink which is pretty much the same colour!

In the middle is Honey Love, a shade I've wanted for ages but for some reason never bought until now. Described by MAC as "light beige toned with rose", this colour is lovely and looks quite 90s to me. I would say that the beige tone in this lipstick tends to drain my face of colour a little so I would prefer a pinker tone, or a pink blusher paired with it. Either way, the longevity is equally as amazing. Did I mention how good the MAC lipsticks smell too?!

Finally we have Russian Red, a cult favourite I'm sure. Described as "intense bluish-red" this colour was darker than I originally thought but is beautiful all the same. I actually realised that my Revlon lipstick in True Red is very similar to the colour of this lipstick so there might be a possible dupe there. I haven't had a chance to wear this properly yet but I'll pair it with my MAC Redd lipliner which I'm sure will compliment each other perfectly. Next stop for me will be Lady Danger as I want a more warm-toned red in my collection too!

REVIEW: Simple Micellar Cleansing Water

I bought the Simple Micellar Cleansing Water this week after overhearing some hype about it recently (particularly Sharon Farrell's demo on YouTube which really impressed me!) I've momentarily ditched my coconut oil cleansing routine because I was getting worried about it potentially clogging my pores, and I have some of the most determined blackheads you'll ever come across!

The cleansing water is to be applied generously to a cotton pad and then gently rubbed all around the face. For eye makeup you can place the cotton buds over both eyes and leave for about 30 seconds to dislodge stubborn mascara and eyeliner, and then gently rub away.

The great thing about the Simple skincare range is that they cater for the most problematic and sensitive skins out there. I have dry skin but was attracted by how pure and natural the cleanser looked, and I love how my skin doesn't feel tight after cleansing with this when it usually does with other cleansers. It actually felt very soft and lightly moisturised. The scent is understated and noninvasive which is great for those who hate the smell of perfumes in skincare products.

The cleanser worked great on base makeup and quite well with eye makeup, though it did require going in one or two times more to completely cleanse the eyes of product. Overall, this cleanser is super easy to use, creates minimal mess, has a moisturising effect, and the best thing of all is that you can buy it from Superdrug for just £2.23 in the sale now!

Dry Skin Saviours!

In this post I wanted to address the problem of living with dry, flaky skin. Sometimes I think to myself that I'm lucky not to be dealing with oiliness or spots but on the other hand dry skin can be a bitch to deal with in its own right. Foundation clinging to dry patches? Check. Cakey looking powder? Check. Feeling like you could literally peel off a whole lip layer? Check.

So I want to talk about some products that have definitely helped me tackle the problem of dry skin on the face and the rest of the body. I am by no means a skincare expert but I know what works on my dry skin so hopefully one of these products works for you too :)

1. The Body Shop Vitamin C Microdermabrasion
This is what you would call a super-scrub. Really. The Vitamin C range in The Body Shop is great for dry skin and this scrub contains crushed garnet stones that really get to work in scrubbing off dead skin cells and flakiness. I would only suggest you use this once a week at most as it truly is one of the stronger face scrubs on the market and as such is branded as a "weekly home-spa exfoliation" so treat it like a spa treatment. This is a product for those times when the skin is truly in need of a deep cleanse.

2. The Body Shop Vitamin C Daily Moisturiser SPF 30
This moisturiser is super rich and contains a high SPF of 30 which is very good for a budget brand. It comes out as a thick, white cream and leaves the skin feeling hydrated and brings it back to life. You might need to wait a tad longer for this one to sink in as it's quite rich but I promise you the wait is worth it. This is my daily moisturiser as it has excellent sun protection and the last thing we with dry skin need is sun damage and/or wrinkles.

3. Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

This product isn't brand specific and any organic, virgin and UNREFINED coconut oil will usually do. Well, if I were to talk about all the benefits of coconut oil I could fill a book really. I use it to remove my makeup at night by warming some between my fingers and lathering all over my face (including eyes) to melt all traces of makeup away. I then rinse with warm water and I'm done. It's as simple as that. The great thing about coconut oil is it leaves your face feeling moisturised, plumped and sometimes makes me forget I have dry skin at all. If you have really dry, tight skin then I would moisturise after rinsing. If you have only slightly dry skin then you could totally get away with cleansing with the coconut oil, removing with cotton pads and leaving it at that, as your face remains hydrated afterwards. If you don't want to use coconut oil on your face then try it on any dry areas of your body and see the difference!

4. Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid
There are other scents like banana and strawberry but I love this lemonade-scented lip balm. Now, as someone with chronically dry lips I've tried tons of lip balms and treatments, but this one comes out on top. It has citric acid in it which acts as a natural exfoliator so you can slap it on and when it dries in the lip balm has literally done all of the hard work for you. It's truly genius, and I can apply lipstick right on top without having to prep my lips in any way. The key ingredient of course is lanolin, an intensely hydrating ingredient derived from sheeps wool. Bliss.

5. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Skin Protectant
If you love a good cult beauty favourite then you probably have this in your collection already. 8 Hour Cream is a fantastic multi-purpose cream that can literally be used ANYWHERE on your body. It's very thick, insanely soft and lasts such a long time. I like to apply it on my lips while I do the rest of my makeup to prep them. You can even leave this cream on the lips overnight for a more intense treatment.

6. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream Intensive Moisturising Hand Treatment

Moving on to other parts of the body now, this hand cream came in a duo set with the original 8 hour cream. It really is something if I rave about a hand cream because I barely ever moisturise my hands and I've been reaching for this quite regularly. It sinks in quite quickly, feels lovely and rich and the best part about it is how baby soft it leaves the hands feeling afterwards. Mmmm! Sure to soothe any dryness or flakiness.

I hope this little round up of dry skin saviours has helped you in some way, and I am only writing about them as I truly recommend them for you if you suffer from dry skin like I do. I hope this helps!

Recent Hair & Makeup Favourites!

1. Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation in Light Porcelain

If you're in the skin tone category of milk bottle white and you struggle to find a reasonably priced foundation that suits you, let me introduce you to this Rimmel foundation in Light Porcelain. This can be applied evenly with fingers or a brush and is a medium buildable coverage to suit whatever level of coverage you desire. The most impressive thing about this foundation is that it doesn't emphasise any dry patches on my skin which is usually something I have a major problem with when using foundations. The colour truly is porcelain, not just a very pale orange passed off as porcelain like so many other brands seem to make. It doesn't seem to become darker or oxidised either when on the skin.

2. Puretopia Moisture Repair Nourishing & Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner

I picked these up on a whim in TK Maxx whilst looking for a new shampoo and conditioner combo that was sulfate and paraben free. This basically means that they are free from detergents that strip the natural oils from your hair and cause it to become greasier quicker. I am quite impressed with this pairing as they do exactly what I wanted out of my hair care range and my hair lasts a day or two longer without getting greasy. This is perfect for the lazy girl in me as I only wash my hair twice a week (Yes, really!) The scent is very interesting and if I had to describe it I would say it smells earthy with a hint of herbs and an all-round clean fragrance.

For anyone wondering what sulfate free shampoos and conditioners feel like, I should say they don't 'lather' like your typical shampoo. This shampoo can feel quite tricky to manage at first but you get the hang of it after a while. My method is to rub a small amount between my hands and work it into my scalp. When I've worked up a small lather I then gather the lengths and ends and work it down my hair without scrubbing. The lengths and ends don't need to be scrubbed harshly and it can lead to split ends and brittle hair. The conditioner is very atypical too. It has more of a cream consistency and the instructions say to leave it on the hair for several minutes or up to 15 minutes for a deep condition. After using my hair feels thicker, more texturised and full of body.

3. Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark

An amazing fool-proof tinted brow gel that truly does keep every hair in its rightful place. A detailed review of this product can be found in a previous blog post!

4. Benefit Benetint Lip and Cheek Stain
A product I've had for quite a long time but have only just now fallen in love with! Benetint is a liquid lip or cheek stain with incredible staying powder. I find cream and liquid blushes to be the most long lasting, with liquids taking the top spot. I put three strokes across the apples of my cheek using the brush that closely resembles a nail varnish brush. I then find it easiest to work with when I blend it using the end of my Real Techniques contour brush for easier control. This stuff stays ALL day, let me tell you! It's a gorgeous natural rosy red that is guaranteed to brighten up any complexion! As a lip stain I have a bit of trouble and find that it applies unevenly and I usually end up with a red ring around my lips and none of the stain inside. As a blusher though, it's really great!

5. The Body Shop Instablur - Universal Shade

I'm not usually one for a primer but this has totally changed the way I feel about them. Apparently a dupe for Benefit's Porefessional? Though don't quote me on that! Instablur really does do what it says on the bottle. I can see my skin blurring as soon as it's applied and everything just looks a lot more even with less uneven skin tone, less visible pores and not forgetting the most amazing soft velvet touch it leaves on the skin. The consistency is a strange one... A clear gel that almost disappears into nothing when it touches the skin, so blend quickly! I find rubbing lightly over the face with the hands is the best method. My foundation has an even canvas after using this and everything just seems to better fit into place!

REVIEW: Benefit Gimme Brow (Medium/Dark)

I kinda bought this product on a whim really. Eyebrow products are fast becoming my favourite makeup item to buy, only slightly behind lipsticks (obviously!)

So lets cut to the chase. I really do love this product. I bought the medium/dark colour which coats every eyebrow hair generously meanwhile the super tiny brush doesn't allow for any clumping of product, which is fantastic. I've heard from other reviewers that there are tiny little fibres in this eyebrow gel, sort of like fibre mascara, which helps to make eyebrows look fuller. The colour is perfect for me on top of my Anastasia Brow Wiz however I took the comparison photos without any other eyebrow product to show you what it looks like on its own.

My bare brows

My brows with Benefit Gimme Brow in Medium/Dark
 

'Scuse the eyelashes! And the eyebrows too, I'm growing them out over the Easter holidays so they're all over the place. You don't realise just how full your eyebrows can be until you start leaving them alone for a while. I love a fresh start. :)

From the comparison you can see that my eyebrows look well-groomed and more shapely after using this product. They're also darker and just generally more appealing. I can tell you now that as far as longevity goes, this product keeps my eyebrows in place for longer than anything I've tried before. I have a problem with eyebrow hairs falling downwards because mine are quite thin and long and therefore gravity naturally wants them to face the floor. Nope. This really does keep them upright without feeling heavy or cakey. I'm not sure how it does it!

If you want to get your hands on it (which I would totally recommend by the way!) you can get it from the website here for £18.50

My Matte Lipstick 'Collection'

I, like countless other makeup obsessives, adore matte lips. There's just something so satisfying about a lip colour that's transfer-proof, long-lasting and super flat and bold. Matte lipsticks don't make your lips look any fuller like a glossy lipstick or one with a sheen, but they do offer unbeatable pigmentation (most of the time) and are lower maintenance than a lipstick that slides around.

So I'm going to go through all the matte lipsticks I own which might hopefully inspire your next purchase or, alternatively, advise you on which ones to avoid!

1 & 2. MUA £1 Matte Lipsticks in Scarlet Siren and Pouty Pink.

Sigh. Sorry to begin on a bum note. I've had these lipsticks for quite some time now and I have never had one successful application the whole time. I literally had to rub them super hard on my arm to get any sort of bold colour. At £1 each I can't complain though! The formula is incredibly dry, especially with Pouty Pink, it applies patchy and just generally looks pretty bad on the lips. Especially since you've already chapped them trying to get any colour pay off! NEXT!

3. MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Halcyon
Proof that MUA really do make good matte lipsticks! This one is a liquid and applies evenly and with intense pigmentation. This colour is a dark rose-tinted nude and I had no problem applying it without a lip liner. It feels quite drying, but that's a matte lipstick for you. The staying power is quite good and, as with many liquid matte lipsticks, the formula tends to flake off before it fades because of the dryness. This one gets a thumbs up from me as it's a lovely colour.

4. Sleek Matte Me Lip Lacquer in Brink Pink
Get ready for the brightest matte pink for this price! I usually do need to apply this with a lip liner but it's so worth it! The colour is a bright, neon pink and you're guaranteed to turn heads whenever you wear it. It wore quite well but tends to get patchy in some areas. As with all liquid lipsticks, watch out for the dreaded ring of lipstick around your lips that often appears as they tend to wear away!

5. Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in Striking
I love love love the Revlon Matte Balms. They are everything a matte lipstick should be and just a little bit more. For an in-depth review on this lipstick (and the range in general) head over to my current favourites post from January!

6. Rimmel Apocalips Lip Velvet in Atomic Rose
I also really like the formula of these lipsticks. I only realised yesterday while trying on my MUA Luxe Velvet Lip Lacquer in Halcyon that it reminded me of this. On closer inspection, and with the swatches side by side, this colour is lighter and even more rose-toned than the MUA one. The longevity is good, the colour is flattering and it's easy to apply! Great stuff.

Recent Purchases: Makeup Revolution, Lancome Etc

1. Max Factor Masterpiece Transform mascara

I was compelled to buy this after watching a demonstration from Sharon Farrell on YouTube during one of her tutorials. After she had applied it my mouth just dropped to the floor as her eyelashes looked ultra fanned out and doll-like. On my eyelashes the effect isn't quite as prominent as mine are shorter, but the wand still managed to capture and elongate all my lashes. If you have shorter lashes like me I would suggest wiping the excess mascara off the wand first with this mascara because it can clump quite easily due to the tiny bristles on the brush.

2. The Body Shop Instablur 5-Action Perfector

I don't usually use a primer but this thing is just fantastic! It claims to blur imperfections, minimise pores and generally improve uneven skintone among other things. The consistency is very strange, almost gel-like and sinks into the skin rapidly, leaving my skin smoother than it's ever felt before! The smoothness really helps with the application of the rest of the makeup as it glides on evenly over the surface. The thing that most impressed me about this product is the way it evens out my skin really well. My pores were reduced, my dark patches of skin lightened, and my face just generally looked a whole lot better!

3. Collection Lasting Perfection Foundation in Porcelain

 Well well well... If this foundation was anything like the Lasting Perfection concealer in Porcelain I'd be a very happy lady. Unfortunately it just isn't so. My Collection concealer is my absolute favourite and most used concealer, so I presumed the shared-name and shared-colour foundation would work wonders too. What you really get is a foundation that comes out of the tube fair but oxidises to a very orange colour. The colour on the back of my hand turns orange within a few minutes so I dread to think how it looks on my face after a long day! Pale ladies, please don't bother!

4. Eyeko Black Magic mascara

I have only used this mascara once so far but wasn't all that impressed. I may change my mind after a second application but I had to apply another mascara over it as it just didn't do anything to define or dramatise my eyelashes! The bristles on the wand are quite fine and the wand is curved in order to curl the lashes, so perhaps my eyelashes simply slipped through the thin bristles.

5. Lily Lolo Super Buffer Brush

This brush claims to be perfect for use with mineral makeup. The bristles are some of the softest and shiniest I have ever felt, and I love to use this brush to apply my blusher, some bronzer, or contour. Had never heard of this brand before but it gets a huge thumbs up from me!

6. Makeup Revolution Ultra Aqua Brow Tints in Medium and Dark

I already have a full review on both of these products right over here!

7. Lancome Le Crayon Kohl in 01 Noir

Not too much to say about this one. A nice, super-black soft kohl pencil great for defining the eyes. Product remains soft and doesn't seem to set on my eyes. Good for blending!

Makeup Revolution Ultra Aqua Brow Tints Review

"Get ULTRA BROWS…NOW!!!
Our Professional Smudge-Proof Eyebrow Tint, that Fills, Defines and Lengthens your Brows to ULTRA Perfection.
Long-wear formula will adapt to your skins temperature during the day, to keep your Brow Perfection all day. Available in 4 Shade Perfection
Cream Formula, easily and smoothly applies, and sets to a professional finish. This 10ml tube allows precise dosage to be applied with your Eyebrow Brush."

I spotted these during a Superdrug online haul and couldn't decide which colour best suited me so I bought both Medium and Dark. I've always been quite wary of liquid, cream or gel eyebrow products as I was always worried they would make my eyebrows look flat and drawn on. I am glad I finally gave something like this a go because, at £3.00 each, I knew it wouldn't be a major catastrophe if they didn't suit me!

 Makeup Revolution Ultra Aqua Brow Tint in DARK

Makeup Revolution Ultra Aqua Brow Tint in MEDIUM

The first impression I got from the medium brow tint was that it looked very red on my eyebrows. The product was easy to apply with an angled eyebrow brush and sheered out very well, but this colour is a huge no-no for me. This might look good on someone with very warm toned or red hair if applied over an appropriately coloured brow pencil.

The dark brow tint might scare many people if judging by the tube colour only. It looks black and, as you can see from the swatch above, comes out as extremely dark brown-black on the skin. I used a very tiny amount on my eyebrows and I actually really like the colour. It suits my very dark brown hair and looks really neat applied over my Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony.

The colour stayed on all day and didn't budge which is a good sign. I find these very quick to apply with an eyebrow brush and easy to fix any smudges or mistakes. At £3.00 each, I would recommend the dark tint for very dark hair, and the medium for people with moderately full/thick eyebrows already, as the colour can appear very red on the skin.

Todays look: Nude Eclipse

FACE:

No7 Instant Radiance foundation in Calico
MeMeMe Beat The Blues highlighter in Pearl Pink
HD Brows Blusher 2
Illamasqua Hollow pigment
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair

EYES:
Sleek Ultra Mattes V2 palette

Maybelline Colour 24 Hour Tattoo in Metallic Pomegranate

Soap and Glory brown eyeliner
Maybelline Scandaleyes mascara

LIPS:

Rimmel Kate Moss lipstick in 03
Rimmel Apocalips lipgloss in Nude Eclipse
Topshop lipliner in Fearless

Todays look: Pomegranate

FACE:

Urban Decay Tease (contour)

Benefit Dandelion blush

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair
MeMeMe Beat The Blues highlighter in Pearl Pink

EYES:
Maybelline 24 Hour Color Tattoo in Timeless Black and Metallic Pomegranate
Mac Soft Ochre paint pot
Sleek Ultra Mattes V2 palette
Makeup Revolution baked eyeshadow palette in Chocolate Deluxe
Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara
Benefit Dandelion blush

LIPS:
Maybelline Color Sensational lipliner in Sweet Pink
Revlon Matte Balm in Sultry

Todays look: Pink Opal

FACE:

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair

MUA Matte palette
HD Brows Blusher 2

Rimmel Stay Matte powder in Transparent

EYES:
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony

The Body Shop clear brow gel
Maybelline 24 hour cream eyeshadow in black

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick eyeshadow in Pink Opal
Rimmel Scandaleyes mascara

Sleek Rio Rio palette (for pop of colour)
Revlon Intense Eyeliner and Brightener

LIPS:
Rimmel Stay Glossy lipgloss in All Day Seduction

Todays look: Hot Spice

FACE:
No7 Instant Radiance Foundation in Calico
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in Fair

Revolution Makeup blusher palette in Hot Spice

Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Transparent
MUA Ever After Matte palette

EYES:

Mac Soft Ochre paint pot

Sleek Ultra Mattes V2 palette

Soap and Glory brown eyeliner pencil
Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony

The Body Shop transparent Brow Gel

Rimmel Scandaleyes Retro Glam mascara
Maybelline 24 hour eyeshadow in black

LIPS:

Maybelline Colorsensational lipliner in Sweet Pink

Rimmel Apocalips matte lipgloss in Atomic Rose

Top 5: Lipsticks

Tonight I want to write about my top 5 (at least at the moment) favourite lipsticks! Without a doubt, lipsticks are the makeup product I own most of. I'm attracted by bright colours, an array of textures, and forever in search for the best long-lasting, moisturising fade-resistant lippie out there. From left to right, here's the cream of the crop from my search so far!

Revlon Colorburst Matte Balm in 'Elusive'/ £7.99 at Boots

Dusky rose colours are the colour I gravitate towards the most. If it's a matte dusky rose then all the better. The Revlon Matte Balms have had some serious hype surrounding them and I think it's all perfectly justified considering how all-round brilliant they are. The chubby stick makes for really easy, fast application without the need for a lip liner and, although matte, the lipstick feels more balm-like which, in my opinion, is just the best of both worlds. No drying, tugging or patchiness when applied. For me, the balm texture lasts between 1 hour and an hour and a half until it then dries to a more matte-like texture. I can get away with this colour because it seems to fade gradually although you might need to wipe and reapply the inside of your lips as the lipstick tends to gather. Overall, I strongly recommend you get one of these chubby sticks in your life. The texture really is like no other.

Lancome Rouge In Love #340/ £21.50 at Boots

This is the only high-end lipstick I own and it was given as a gift (from my wishlist of course!) for Christmas. Clearly the most vibrant and confident of all the colours, this lipstick really makes your face light up. The texture is quite light though the colour payoff is very good, and the best thing about this lipstick is that it fades away gradually rather than leaving a line around your lips or any patchiness. This is where it seems to be really worth the price!

Clinique Chubby Stick  in 07 Super Strawberry/ £17.00 at Boots

This actually belonged to my mum for a very long time and I had been eyeing it up for quite some time, occasionally trying it on as she didn't appear to use it. This, my friends, is my perfect chubby stick. The price is steep, I completely understand, but this colour is so natural and naturally plumps my lips. After application they look fuller, pinker, juicier (I hate that word but it's true!) and brighten my face. In other words, it is my perfect "my lips but better" colour! When it starts to fade, my lips remain moisturised, more plumper looking, and completely natural. I want to collect absolutely all of them!

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipstick in #03/ £5.49 at Boots

I've had one of these lipsticks in my collection for a long time, but a dark red colour. I never got much wear out of it as I don't sport red lips too often. I did, however, see a collection of these lipsticks swatched on Pinterest and fell in love with the pale, nude selection they had. Most of the swatched colours were sold out so I picked up the closest I could find which was this one. Firstly, I have had many compliments about the colour on me as it's one of the fair few nudes I can get away with! It's not too pale and not too brown, more of a 90s nude than anything! The texture of this lipstick is one of the most impressive things about it, as it fades gradually and, much like the lancome lipstick, doesn't leave patches anywhere on the lips. I can apply another coat straight over the top when it fades and don't have to re-exfoliate or re-moisturise.

MAC Sheen Supreme lipstick in Ultra Darling/ £16.50 from MAC

With all the money I've spent on cheaper lipsticks I could have bought about 30 MAC lipsticks, but to the shock and horror of most people, this is the only MAC lipstick I have ever owned. I don't live near a MAC store and I suppose I find it easier to pick colours when I can go in myself and swatch them. I'm also a bit too lazy to wait for the post... In due time I will definitely top up on some though. Before I discovered the Clinique Chubby Sticks, this was my perfect "my lips but better"colour. It's a medium yellow-pink rose colour which, as the name suggests, casts a beautiful sheen across the lips. I can get away with just patting this into my lips with my finger if I want natural looking lips, or I can amp up the opacity with a full coat. Both look divine!

Well now that you've had enough of me droaning on about mine, what's your top 5?

Get the look: Angelina Jolie!

STEP 1:

Apply your favourite foundation and do eyebrows as normal.

STEP 2:

Use a concealer a couple shades lighter than your skin tone and highlight underneath your eyes, cheekbones, bridge of nose, chin, and above jaw.

STEP 3:

Using a cream contour, apply to temples, underneath cheekbones, under jaw and down the sides of the nose.

STEP 4:

Apply eyeshadow base and then a pale, matte cream colour all over the lid.

STEP 5:

Blend a dark matte brown into the socket, particularly on the outside. Blend this colour slightly on the lower outside edge of the lash line.

STEP 6: 

Tightline your eyes with a gel eyeliner and line the top lashes from the middle to the outer edge, create a small flick. Line your waterline with a brown pencil and create a small point on the tearduct.

STEP 7: 

Apply mascara, paying particular attention to the outside of the eye. Powder entire face,

STEP 8:

Line lips with a pale pink pencil and fill in. Apply a bronze lip gloss on top.

EYES:

Soap and Glory brown eyeliner pencil

MUA Matte palette

Maybelline 24 Hour Eyeshadow in black

MAC Soft Ochre paint pot

FACE:

Boots No7 Instant Radiance foundation in Calico

Rimmel Stay Matte powder in transparent

MUA Contour Kit

Anastasia Brow Wiz in Ebony
The Body Shop clearbrow gel

LIPS:

 Maybelline Colour Sensational lipliner in Sweet Pink

Rimmel Apocalips lip lacquer in Nude Eclipse

Fashion and Beauty Wish List

Almond Wish List by shanibandangle-1 featuring lips makeup

Miss Selfridge polyester shirt, £22 / Obsessive compulsive cosmetic, £12 / Benefit lips makeup / Charlotte Tilbury lip liner / Yankee Candle Happy Birthday' Celebration Candle Medium Jar only |... / Urban Decay Naked Lip Gloss - House of Fraser

1. OCC Lip tar in Memento. I can't believe I've gone through this far in my life without owning an OCC Lip Tar. Bonkers, I know. I've seen them being applied many times and with the ability to mix any two colours or more, they really are like your own personal lipstick factory.

2. Miss Selfridge Polyester Shirt. This is a beauty! Clean, elegant, classy and fitted. What more does a girl need in a shirt?

3. Yankee Candle in Vanilla Cupcake. Pass me anything with a scent of vanilla and I'll adore it. I know freshly baked and sweet scents aren't everyones cup of tea, but they are absolutely everything I crave in a candle.

4. Urban Decay Naked Lip Gloss in Nooner. I'm in need of a nude gloss. Especially one that compliments the naked palettes, and with such a wide array of colours there's a naked out there for everyone. :)

5. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk. I think I saw Lisa Elridge use this, and what an amazing colour! A lipliner 'cheat' in different skin tone colours to outline your lips and still look totally natural!

6. Benefit Dandelion Lip Gloss. The benefit Dandelion blush is such a complimentary colour for pale skin tones. Lets hope the gloss is the same!

My Current Makeup Favourites

I'm going to take this opportunity today to rave about my current favourite makeup products and why I love them so. Many of these products I am a long-term lover of and continue to purchase, whereas others are recently purchased and instantly adored!

1.  Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 Palette. If you hadn't already guessed just by looking at it, this palette is a drugstore dupe of the beloved Urban Decay Naked 3 palette, but at less than a quarter of the price. The shades are incredibly flattering on me and the warmth really compliments my skin tone. You could be forgiven for thinking that a palette priced at just £4 will hold nothing but cheap, tacky, dull eyeshadows that don't blend or work well together. WRONG! These colours are some of the most easily blendable I have ever worked with and the pigmentation is incredible for the price. Even the matte colours are really vibrant and the lightest shade is the best pale eyeshadow I have ever used. Not to mention they are the closest colour and texture dupes I will ever find compared with the Naked 3 Palette. I swatched my favourite 5 shades below (numbers 12, 6, 7, 2 and 1)

Makeup Revolution Iconic 3 palette

2. Mac Soft Ochre Paint Pot. I was introduced to this by Nikkie Tutorials on Youtube who uses it on so many of her tutorials. As we are both mega pale I thought I would give this a try. The texture is lovely and creamy and it blends so easily onto the eyes with either a brush or your fingers. I use this as an eyeshadow primer every single day and the longevity is the best I have ever experienced from an eyeshadow base. If I was being picky I would say this specific colour is slightly too yellow on my skin but this is irrelevant as I always pack more colour on top of it. It is great for providing a smooth base for eyeshadow and it covers any veins on the eyelids (of which I have many!)

3. Benefit Dandelion Blush. I've had this for an embarrassingly long time and I'm not even sure you're supposed to keep makeup that long, but besides that, Dandelion is great! It's a pale pink powder blush that, in my opinion, reminds me of the cheeks of porcelain dolls! Pale, subtle, and so pretty. 

4. Illamasqua Cream Pigment in Hollow. If you're a super pale girl on a quest for the perfect ashy contour colour, then stop searching, because it's right here. I first heard about Hollow from Samantha Chapman on YouTube who described it as the perfect contour colour for pale skin because it doesn't have any orange or red tones in it. It's a pale, ashy brown that's buildable and easy to blend on the skin. The swatch below is very pigmented but blended out it looks incredible and mimics the shadows someone might have on more naturally contoured cheeks.

Benefit Dandelion blush and Illamasqua Hollow

5. Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer. This is already a cult favourite and for very good reason! I don't own any other Collection makeup apart from this product, but I'm on my fourth bottle as we speak. It has just the most perfect full coverage, it's creamy, blendable and lasts a really long time. I haven't had coverage as good as this concealer with any others I have tried, and this is especially important from someone who doesn't wear foundation. Not only that but it actually caters for pale people! Can you imagine that?!  No more having to pick between 'light', 'medium', or 'dark', but instead we have 'fair' for the rest of us. Thank goodness for that, because I typically struggle finding concealers (and foundations) that don't turn me into an orange mess.

6. Rimmel Lasting Finish Kate Moss lipstick in 03. The Kate Moss lipsticks have an amazing formula. They're beautifully creamy, moisturising and they fade gradually on the lips and don't leave a ring around them like some lipsticks do. Most lipsticks I find leave my lips flaky and dry when they fade, but not this one. When I need a top up I find that I can just instantly put another coat on top and not have to worry about exfoliating and moisturising all over again first. The shade 03 is a lovely nude that leans on the darker side. I would describe it as a medium brown-beige colour with a creamy finish. I find this colour very flattering on pale skin and doesn't wash me out like other nudes do.

L- R. Kate Moss lipstick in 03, Revlon Matte Balm in Elusive, Revlon Matte Balm in Striking

7. Revlon Matte Balms in Elusive and Striking. These balms were all the rage when they first came out and I jumped wholeheartedly onto the bandwagon and have built a mini-collection over the last year or so. First things first, the words 'matte' and 'balm' are not two words that you often hear together, but it's precisely what they are! It is the creamiest matte lipstick I have ever worn and instead of dragging across the lips like many of them do, it glides across beautifully and is so easy to apply. The finish remains soft and moisturising about an hour on me afterwards where it then sets. I love these for their ease of application and matte look, but I do find that they leave a sticky, built up residue in the middle of my bottom lip after a while! The swatch in the centre of the picture above is quite a bit darker than it truly is, but it's actually a cool-toned, dusty, pale pink matte that I think could be universally flattering. To the right is 'striking', a vibrant, warm red that instantly lights up my face!

8. Lanolips Lemonaid Lip Aid. Lanolips is wonderful in the way that it moisturises so extremely well but somehow manages to gently exfoliate at the same time! I haven't tried any of the other variations of this lip treatment but this lemonade scent smells amazing. Unlike other lip balms and moisturisers, when I take them off I have to exfoliate the dead skin before I apply my lipstick. With Lanolips the skin seems to come off with the product which is amazing and saves me so much time, especially out and about.

9. Rimmel Scandaleyes Mascara. This mascara works better on my eyelashes than most I have tried. I'm not blessed with long eyelashes and they can be quite sparse, so I need a wand that's big and bulky in order to capture every lash that tries to escape. The wand is quite bulbous and goes inwards at the centre. I don't know what kind of effect this creates but it works! I think it helps in curling the lashes and after I use it I notice that they are much thicker, longer and slightly curved.

That's all for now and sums up most of my 'staple' products that I always return to in times of need.

What would be your one staple product?