Can you believe that we are already half way through September? The leaves are already starting to turn brown and cover the roads and I am very excited. Autumn (or Fall depending on your geographical location) is my favourite time of year, not only is it my birthday but it means I can wear cozy jumpers, drink lots of salted caramel hot chocolates and go mad buying chunky boots.
Autumn also means that you can finally fish out those berry shades and plaster them all over your face without judgement. Usually around this time I take a good hard look at what I've squashed into my makeup bag and have a much needed change over. Some things stay the same, mostly bases as I'm pale all year round, but there are some major change ups that happen every September.
The first thing I do is change over the eyeshadows in my MAC quad. Over the summer I will usually stick some neutral, matte shades in, that are perfect for a bright and natural summer look. Once the colder weather starts setting in, it's time to crack out the coppers and reds. My all time favourite autumn shadows are Cranberry and Sketch so they make the cut every time autumn rolls around. This year I've also decided to have a bit of Woodwinked in there as well as a Brule, as it's a great base no matter what the season.
Other than the quad change I like to use darker more vampy lipsticks, my most used being MAC's Hang-Up. Hang-Up is a deep berry red in the Cremesheen formula so it's super moisturising and amazingly pigmented, one of my absolute favourites. I've also got a few Rimmel lipsticks that get taken out, Dark Night Water-loops! being the most popular.
I'm not one for following trends either in fashion or beauty, but the berry trend that appears every year is one I always get on board with. I love a bit of an edge to my look no matter what the weather, but autumn just makes it even more acceptable for me to really explore the slightly gothic look my very pale skin offers me. Are you one for the dark vamp look around autumn/fall? Or do you like to keep it neutral and fresh all year round?
When you think of a bright, bold red lip and inky, black liner your mind usually wanders to the likes of Marylin Monroe or Audrey Hepburn. The stars on the 1950's owned this classic look, and for good reason. The red lip and black flick combo is a timeless look that pretty much looks good on anyone and everyone. With so many different red shades available these days, it's easy to find a red that suits you. Even though the classic look is a bright, cherry red lip, you could change it up for a dark plumb red to give a more vampy look. A darker red lip teamed with a little bit of black eyeshadow over the top of the liner will smoke it out and give you the ultimate vamp makeup. Finding the right eye makeup to lip colour ratio can be a little difficult if you're not a seasoned pro, but the liquid liner and red lip is always a safe option. Good enough for beginners and professionals alike, this classic bombshell look will continue to me timeless.
Nudes are a 'must-have' in any makeup collection and it can be a complete mission to find the right shades for your skin tone. In my opinion, it is important to get a pinky tone that compliments your skin rather than going for the completely erased lips look. A good nude should enhance the colour you have naturally and allow any other bold makeup choices to shine through.
I very rarely go for a really bold makeup look, I like to keep my tones quite earthy and natural so nudes are a very large part of my lipstick collection. My top two most used nudes have to be from Rimmel, the first one, Rimmel Kate 03, is one of the oldest lipsticks I own and it has made me proud on many occasions. The 03 is the most peachy toned of my nudes and I prefer to use this one when I have a really bold eye as it mutes out my lips enough to let the eyes pop.
The second of the amazing Rimmel nudes is my most recent purchase, Rimmel Asia. This one is a more muted rose shade and is great if you want to go for that slightly darker 90's nude that seems to be fairly popular at the moment.
When I'm looking something a little warmer I reach for my only Maybelline lipstick, the Color Sensational lipstick in Velvet Beige. I bought this when I had chocolate brown hair and wanted something to compliment my new hue. It is very similar to Asia, but with a stronger pink undertone, which also makes it a little lighter.
Finally, we have the MAC lipstick, a lipstick collection post just isn't the same without a cameo from MAC. This was the first ever MAC lipstick I bought and we had a bump start. At first I didn't like how it applied and clung to the dry patches on my lips, but now we've established a rhythm and it has become one of my favourite nudes. Definitely a more pink toned nude, I prefer to apply this and blend it out with my finger to give it a more natural look.
All of my nudes have a very creamy moisturising texture as I have dry lips and nothing makes a lipstick look un-natural like when it is clinging to all your dry parts. I have a range of tones to suit any hair colour as I'm a bit of a hair dye fiend, which you might have noticed if you watch my YouTube videos. It really is important for a nude lipstick to enhance what you already have, I'm all about the natural beauty.
Red lipstick always scares me a little bit, there's always that constant feeling some has got on your teeth and I also have uneven lips, so it takes some careful application to get it to look right. Never the less, a good blue toned red always brings out my freckles and the red in my hair, making for a very good accessory to have in my arsenal.
Many red lipsticks have been and gone, passing through my collection like smoke. I've always made the mistake of buying orange toned reds and every single one has looked horrendous, swiftly finding themselves in the bin or in the back of a draw. They say that there is a red out there to suit everyone, a bit like a lipstick soul mate. Mine found me through a Christmas blogger box swap and it was a much-welcomed gift.
Immediately after applying I fell in love, not just the rich red shade but also the smoothness of the product. Topshop makeup is always something I want to dabble in but never seem to get around to. This Lip Bullet in Joyride is a gem that I would never have found on my own and is something I highly recommend.
I'd love to try other shades in the Lip Bullets because this is fantastic! The lip crayon shape makes applying red lipstick super easy (something that applying red lipstick rarely is) and the formula is so smooth and creamy and doesn't seem to smudge too easily.
Every girl needs a solid red lipstick to hand when things get tough or you need to impress, it will serve you well and fill you with confidence. I always feel like an old Hollywood star when I'm rocking this and I don't know what I'd do without it, I'm in love.
What's your red lipstick of choice? Do you feel your confidence build when you apply your favourite lippy?
Check out my May Favourites video to find out about all the products I've been loving in May!
As spring is just around the corner and the pastel colours are out in full force, I wanted to share just a few of my pastel picks. Not only do I plan to wear my pastels proudly on my face but also on my accessories.
I'm not really a pastel girl when it comes to clothes so I love to add a splash of pastel on my nails. Three of my all time favourite pastel shades, and nail polishes in general, are OPI Such A Budapest, Barry M Mint Green and Essie Tea and Crumpets. All of them are pastel but not too girly. Such A Budapest is my favourite polish I own, its lilac shade compliments my pale skin tone really well and is the polish I usually wear the most on rainy spring days.
I also like to tone down my cheek colour in the spring; a flush of pink is all I need so I go with a bit of MAC Well Dressed. A very sheer pale pink that gives just a hint of colour, perfect for no makeup makeup or when you just want an easy makeup day. And for those days where you want just a hint of colour but a lovely flash of highlight, the Soap & Glory Glow All Out highlighter is perfect. It gives you a gorgeous highlight with a tiny tint of pale peach-pink.
For the eyes, I love really pale sheer shades. If I'm wearing a pink I like it to be really subtle, no Barbie pink eyes for me. The shade Magic from the Urban Decay Glinda Palette is really nice lightly brushed all over the lid, using a fluffy brush it gives a nice hint of pink without being too overpowering. If cream shadows are more your thing, try the Mabelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold, a soft pink with gold iridescent, this has a nice peachy tone which can be worn on it's own or as a base. I also like to go for a safe nude shade; illusion is also from the Glinda Palette and just adds a hint of shimmer to a bland peachy nude.
Then I have my 'go to' pastel lip shade, MAC Creme Cup. This is my perfect day lipstick, it's a pale pink which doesn't make your lips completely disappear into your skin tone but gives them the coveted 'your lips but better' colour. To top it all off I have my Monsoon iPhone 5 case, I love the geometric shapes and it adds a bright springy feel to any outfit.
I had to give this lipstick it's own post, when A/W rolls around this is the first lippy I reach for. It is the perfect plum red for my skin tone and it stays put with minimal touch ups throughout the day. In the winter, my already dry lips get even drier and wearing lipstick can be a little uncomfortable. But when you have a good MAC lipstick to hand there is no worries. The Cremesheen formula is creamy and moisturising, giving you maximum colour and comfort and is definitely my favourite formula of MAC lipstick. If this shade isn't already in you MAC lipstick collection, I suggest you go to the store and give one a home.
This lipstick is widely known throughout the blogosphere, its rich plum hue has captured the heart of millions this A/W13. It has been spoken about to death on most blogs I've read, but I felt it important to give it its own little slot on mine.
Dark lips are a trend every autumn, and every year I set out on a mission to find the perfect plums and dark reds. Rimmel are my 'go to' brand when it comes to drugstore makeup and yet again they haven't disappointed.
Dark Night Waterl-Oops! Is the perfect rich deep plum, which packs a punch when it comes to moisture, what with it being one of the new formulas of Moisture Renew. The pigmentation is amazing and it's perfect for those who want a slightly darker, vampier version of Rimmel's equally praised Kate 107 lipstick. Yes, the 107 is a matte and this is all about the moisture, but they have a similar blue tone, which I love.
It is a pleasure to wear and feels comfortable on even the driest of lips, mine being one, but it does have its issues. The best way to keep this baby in place is to wack on some lip liner, I don't usually use lip liner but I found that without it, this would bleed pretty badly. It also wears away fairly easy leaving you with that odd halo of lipstick on your lips. It didn't surprise me that its staying power wasn't great, it is very moisturising so that usually lends itself to a fair bit of slipping and sliding. However, if you can get the knack of keeping this in place, it is a must have this A/W13.
Have you tried this yet? Do you love it as much as everyone else?
I'm not usually a massive fan of a matte finish, I have very dry lips at the best of times and would rather not make them look more prune like. But when I saw this shade on Zoella in one of her videos, I went straight out and bought it. It is a really lush berry red shade which is perfect for Autumn/Winter, not to mention anything matte is very in trend this season.
The Rimmel lipsticks are, in my opinion, some of the best available on the high street. The staying power is amazing and the pigmentation is stunning. However for my already dry lips, this is very drying. I usually apply a lip balm underneath to make it more comfortable to wear, which usually works a treat.
This has definitely become one of my 'must have' A/W lip products, the colour is just too gorgeous to ignore. Not to mention the price of Rimmel lipsticks is a steal.
RRP: £5.49
Have you purchased 107 yet? Do you love the Kate Matte formula?
Hello there! Well I was very kindly tagged by my friend Jess over at The Mod Mermaid to do the Crazy About Lipstick TAG! I feel like I've not done a proper chatty, answer some questions post for forever and during the Autumn/Winter months I do tend to go a bit lip product crazy. So let's answer some questions!
1. How many lipsticks do you own?
I wasn't a big lipstick lover at first so I've only been collecting lipsticks for a short amount of time, resulting in a relatively small (ish) collection. One second whilst I count... 18 lipsticks not including glosses, stains and balms.
2. What was your first lipstick?
I honestly can't remember but I'm pretty sure I've chucked it out by now. My oldest lipstick in my collection at the moment is my Rimmel lipstick in 220 Retro.
3. What is your most worn lipstick?
It's probably my YSL Rouge Volupte Shine lipstick in Coral Intuitive. It is just so comfy to wear that it's my "go to" for day time.
4. What is your favourite brand of lipstick?
I am majorly in love with the YSL lipsticks, just not the price of them. I do love my Rimmel lipsticks though. I always end up heading to the Rimmel stand when looking for lipsticks, they are so affordable and don't dry out my already Sahara dessert lips.
5. What is your favourite finish?
If we are talking MAC then it would be the cremesheen finish, they are non drying and comfy to wear. I'm not a big lover of a matte finish.
6. What is the last lip product you bought?
I actually went out the other day and bought the Rimmel Kate Matte lipstick in 107 because I saw Zoella wearing it in a video. It is a matte finish which I don't love, but the colour is so gorgeous and wintery I couldn't resist.
7. How many lip products (everything) do you currently have in your handbag?
None. I don't like keeping lip products in my handbag because I lose them. I'm also so super duper lazy that I can't be bothered going handbag fishing for them when I need them. I do tend to keep a lip balm in the pocket of each jacket/coat, easily accessible if they are in a coat pocket.
8. What lip product do you use to rock a red lip?
If I want a retro red lip I reach for my Rimmel 170 Alarm lipstick. It's more of a blue tone which looks better on me. I do love a good dark red lip though, for that I usually go for MAC Hang-Up.
9. How do you store your lipstick?
I have mine in a very handy acrylic lipstick storage thingy that I got off Amazon, pretty standard really.
10. What lip products are you currently lusting after?
I'd love to get more YSL lipsticks in darker shades, but there are also about 1 million MAC lipsticks I want.
So that is it for my TAG! I'm not going to TAG anyone specifically but if you would like to have a bash, you are more than welcome to say I tagged you!
I've been meaning to put this post up for a while and was meant to do it before Summer was well and truly over (I failed a bit there didn't I!) what with this being a very summery shade and all. Rimmel's Coral In Gold is a really pretty orange-red gold colour which gives a gorgeous gold shimmer to the lips. In the bullet it looks bright orange but when applied sheers out nicely to give a nice subtle colour.
The way I always explain the finish to people, is that it's like Nars Orgasm, but for your lips. It gives a sheer base colour of orange-red and then adds very very fine splashes of gold glitter to give it that iridescent glow. The texture is as smooth and comfortable to wear as pretty much all of Rimmel's Lasting Finish lipsticks, the pigmentation is great but because it is such a sheer shade, it will wear off pretty easily. A really pretty lipstick and a Summer must have, even if you do have to wait till next Summer!
Have you tired Coral In Gold? What do you think of Rimmel lipsticks?
I've had the Rimmel Apocolips Lip Lacquers for a while, hiding away at the back of my makeup draw. I will start by saying, they are definitely a love/hate product for me.
I love the packaging, it's so sleek and stylish and has an 'asteroid hurtling towards the unsuspecting earth' look about it, matching it's world ending name. The applicator is a bit hit and miss though. On the one hand I love the size and shape of the doe foot, it fits perfectly against my lips. However it does have this rather annoying little well in the center of it. I'm not 100% sure of the purpose of the well, it seems to just collect excess product, making it harder to apply.
The shade range isn't fantastic either, they have pretty basic shades, but they are releasing more shades in the Fall/Autumn. I have the shades Stellar, Big Bang and Luna, a mixture of vibrant and neutral. The pigmentation of these is AMAZING! These are a cross between a lipstick and a lipgloss, I like to say that they're a nail polish for your lips, only without the drying part.
(Big Bang)
(Stellar)
(Luna)
(From Left To Right: Stellar, Luna, Big Bang)
Now for the final crunch. I love how pigmented and rich the colours are, they are so vibrant and look amazing on. However (and this is a big however) they are super duper hard to apply. I've spent so much time taking it off and re-applying to get a nice even application, which is a pain because these stain like you wouldn't believe. They also don't set, which is a big no no. You are constantly worrying whether your lip lacquer has smudged all over your face and that is a complete pain in the rear end.
So yes they look beautiful once you've managed to actually apply them evenly, but they will end up all over your face throughout the day. The more neutral shades like Luna are no problem! But I now own two gorgeous lip products that I'm scared to wear out of the house, not ideal.
Have you tried the Rimmel Apocolips Lip Lacquers? What do you think of them?
I've been reading sooo many blogs lately that I have developed a rather long list of items I really really want to try. I thought I'd share some of the products that have really tickled my fancy. I am determined to own all of these by the end of the month! Money or no money (no money being the most likely).
1. Gucci Premiere EDP - £45 30ml
One of my all time favourite perfumes that I can never afford! I absolutely love the smell of this and often go into department stores just to take a sniff. Unfortunately it is extremely expensive, with the 30ml bottle costing a whopping £45! A girl can dream hey.
2. MAC Lipstick in Coral Bliss - £15
This is a MAC Lipstick that I've had my eye on for a while but just never seem to buy. With the prices of MAC lipsticks ever rising, it is getting harder and harder for me to be able to afford these luscious lippys. I am determined that I will own this, and soon.
3. Moroccanoil Light Oil Treatment - £12.85 25ml
After trying the Organix version, I'm intrigued to see how it compares to the lord of all hair oil. Someone pointed out to me that the main ingredient of the Organix Moroccan Argan Oil was silicone, bad Organix! I want to see if the real stuff makes THAT much more of a difference.
4. Dr. Jart+ Regenerating BB Cream - £21
Every beauty blogger and her dog has been praising this BB cream and I want to see why! There's 3 to choose from and the regenerating version is apparently the one that suits my sensitive skin the best. My skins been clearing up a lot lately and I want something that I can slap on when nipping out, this might just be the answer.
5. REN F10 Smooth & Renew Peel Mask - £20
I have Little Red to thank for this. After reading her review I was immediately hooked. I find it hard to find masks that agree with my sensitive skin, this one is apparently fine and dandy! I'm always after something to give me smooth radiant skin and this looks rather tempting. I have seen this in the REN Sensitive Skin Starter Set for £19, so I may buy that so that I can test out a few REN products at the same time.
6. Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Mask - £23.95 250ml
Another product I've seen featured on many blogs. I haven't tried any Macadamia products as of yet and I love a good hair mask. With growing my hair out, I'm constantly on the lookout for products to keep my hair healthy during the growing out process. This looks a good a place as any to start testing out Macadamia products.
7. Urban Decay Glinda Palette - £36
I very nearly bought this instead of the Naked 2 palette, I've wanted to get my mitts on this since the day it came out! I think the main appeal of this for me is the idea of a reusable palette. The packaging is so beautiful and would be a great addition to my collection that I could use again and again. Plus you get a pencil liner and a lip crayon!
Have you tried and tested any of these products? Would you recommend them?
It is time for the Best In Beauty Competition round 3! And thanks to all of you lovely subscribers/followers, I have made it this far! This week both group 1 and 2 are coming together to create one giant super group. 2 people will be eliminated this week, so I will need your help yet again to get me through to round 4!
This week we were asked to create a video reviewing a product/products we love! After much consideration I realised there was not a product I loved THAT much to create a whole video around it. Don't get me wrong I love doing little bite size reviews of products, but this video had to be super special. And so I have decided to share with you all my summer essentials!
As a pale ghost lady, summer is a bit of a tricky time of year for me. I burn like a Lobster if I'm in the sun for more than 10 minutes, so I have collected certain products over the years to keep my English rose complexion (or improve it). So lets get started shall we!
Palmers Cocoa Butter Natural Bronze
I always find fake tan too dark for me, it tends to be too much of a drastic change and I end up looking like I've been tangoed! Gradual tanners are much more fair skin friendly, they give you a nice glow and full control of how dark you look. This stuff doesn't smell too bad, although the biscuit smell is still there. Kind of makes me hungry when I'm lying in bed smelling like biscuits. It does have a cocoa butter smell though, which tries to mask it... but it doesn't. This is also super moisturising and dries pretty quickly, so no standing around naked for hours on end. The super handy pump also makes it really easy to apply, as you don't end up squirting too much out. I prefer to apply this with my hands rather than a mitt as I think it gives you a better colour, I find with a mitt you don't really get enough product on the skin. I wouldn't recommend this if your looking for a full on tan, if you have medium to dark skin I don't think this will be dark enough for you.
RRP: £2.67! BARGAIN!
Piz Buin 1 Day Long Lotion
Where do I start with this miracle sun cream? Oh yeh... It is the bestest sun cream on the planet! Since I was a kid I've had to put up with constantly being slathered in sticky, greasy factor 50. One wrong move and horrendous burning will occur. This allows me to apply my sun cream ONCE! Slap it on in the morning before going out in the sun and bish bash bosh, no more applications necessary. This smells divinely of holidays, it's a little greasy at first but soon soaks in. I always forget I'm wearing it and can therefore carry on with whatever fun in the sun I may be having! I have never ever burned whilst wearing this, even way down at SPF10 and that's saying something. Plus it's waterproof! What more could you possibly want!
RRP: £12.99 100ml or £19.99 200ml
Vaseline Aloe Fresh Body Gel/Lotion
I went to Boardmasters in Newquay a few years ago and burnt one foot really badly. However because everyone was burning, all of the after sun had completely sold out! My sister suggested I get something with Aloe Vera in and the rest is history. This is better than any after sun. I usually slather it all over the burn a couple of times a day and it moisturises amazingly. It takes all the sting out and even helps the red raw burn go a nice golden brown! I usually use the lotion but I've also used the gel, which is better if you want something that soaks into the skin quickly.
RRP: £2.99 200ml or £4.69 400ml (This stuff also comes in spray form!)
Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Skin Protectant
A must have for burned or even just flaky, dry lips. I love to put this on before I go to bed (as it is quite greasy) then the next morning, baby soft lips! If you burn your lips, this really helps to moisturise them and get them back to their normal lippy selves.
RRP: £25.00 50ml
Maybelline Color Tattoos
If I ever want some eye shadows to tough through the sweat and hot weather, these are my guys. These are long wearing cream shadows, easily buildable and don't crease! I have a few of theses but my favourite every day ones are Metallic Pomegranate, Pink Gold & On and On Bronze.
These can also be built to give a really vibrant opaque colour, or you can lightly blend them over the lid for a bit of a wash. Perfect for day to night looks!
RRP: £4.99 each
Revlon Lip Butters
I love these in summer because of how moisturising they are! (Starting to see a pattern here?) They do have a habit of melting like a crazy mo-fo in heat so that is an issue. I find if I'm carrying them around in my handbag they stay cool enough to not melt into a pretty coloured puddle. I have only 3 of these! I don't know why though, I think I need a Lip Butter shopping trip.
I only really wear Juicy Papaya and Cupcake during the hotter months, but I do love Raspberry Pie so I didn't want to leave it out. Juicy Papaya and Cupcake are really sheer, making them perfect for putting on without a mirror, sometimes a necessity when on the go.
RRP: £7.99 each
Maybelline Dream Touch Blush
I love these cream blushes from Maybelline, purely because they are super pigmented and long wearing! I've had really dry skin lately so this blush in Berry has been my savior. It is really easy to blend and gives a lovely smooth rosey finish!
RRP: £6.49 each
Finally make sure you vote for me in the Best In Beauty Competition hosted by YouTuber JenLuvsReviews! All you have to do to vote is click on this lovely link http://youtu.be/yj1bqLdolEU and type my name (Cheshire Cat) into the comments section! You can also vote for a whopping 3 other contestants! That's 4 votes in total! If you do want to use all 4 of your votes, make sure you put them all in one single comment. Thank you sooooo much guys! And my final question to you?
