January Favourites

Ok, so I'm aware that my January favourites are a little on the late side, but I've been so excited to  share these products that I thought I'd rather write this post a little late than not at all. January was quite a busy month for me, and has been as up and down as the banks of the Thames. For starters, I passed my driving test! First attempt, I might add! :) It's something I'm immensely proud of, and I'm so glad that it's now ticked off my to do list. However, due to the diabolical weather conditions, I've not been able to do much driving with my shiny new licence, and on top of that we've been treated to power cuts and floods all over the place. As a result, most of the back end of the month was spend literally holding down the fort through fear that it might blow away, and, the icing on the miserable cake, I had a stinker of a cold. Things are finally starting to resemble normality here, however, despite the fact that one more inch of rain will mean I may have to swim to work. And although I cannot wait to see the back of this abysmal weather, here are a few of the beauty products that I'm happy to have stick around.

Liz Earle//Blend & Contour Brush

I discovered Liz Earle's Colour collection at the end of last year, and as a result, this little blending dream crept into my brush collection. It's quite a long, tapered brush with a definite point to it, which I find absolutely amazing for blending eyeshadow on my slightly hooded eyes. You literally place the tip in your socket and move it backwards and forwards - no skill required - and you're left with perfectly blended shadows. It's revolutionised the way I apply my make up, so much so that I actually struggle to use my old blending brushes now without making a terrible mess of things. I'm not a huge fan of the clear handles, I feel it's more childish than stylish, but I can definitely deal with the less than pleasing aesthetic when the results are so good!

MAC//Mulch Eyeshadow

Ever a lover of MAC eyeshadows, I've been pining after this particular colour for a while. I finally caved and added it to my collection last month, and I was right to want it so badly. A dark shimmery reddish brown, it looks fantastic on blue eyes. I've been loving coupling it with MACs Patina, (the pair blend together seamlessly) blending it through my crease for a beautifully smoky daytime look. 

Jo Malone//Pomegranate Noir

This beautiful fragrance was a Christmas present, and let me tell you, I cannot get enough of it. Fruity and quite spicy at the same time, it has that perfect rich wintery undertone, whilst still packing that delicious juicy punch.

Soap & Glory//Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick in Nudist

I've never been one for nude lips, and I think I'm only just realising that this is because I hadn't yet found the right nude colour for me. That is, until now! I've recently dipped my toes into the realms of Soap & Glory makeup, and found rather a few gems, but this gloss stick is by far my favourite. Quite a pinky nude with a beautiful shine,  this glossy pencil is the perfect 'your lips but better' shade for me.

Maybelline//Dream Touch Blush in 07 Plum

Now, I don't usually go for pink on my cheeks, but I've been having a bit of a moment with this blush over the past month. I love the texture of the Maybelline mousses, and I'm a massive fan of this blush's peach counterpart, which I reviewed last summer. These blushes have quite a bit of sheen to them, making them the perfect pick me up in these dreary Winter months. Didn't want my complexion to mirror the dullness of my mood now, did I?

Fresh//Sugar Coral Tinted Lip Treatment SPF 15

I often suffer from awfully dry lips, and am constantly searching for the best products for keeping them soft and supple. This beautiful balm has done an amazing job of keeping my parched peckers in ship shape this winter. Not only that, it's the most wonderful coral shade which is a lot more than just 'tinted', like a lot of the sheer lip treatments on offer. Although not as long lasting, it's as pigmented as lipstick, and I love wearing it as one when I want that pop of colour, but my lips are feeling oh so dry. This product comes in quite a range of colours, so I'm absolutely going to be expanding my collection. Plus, it has an SPF of 15 built in: always a bonus in my mind. 

L'Oreal Paris//Black Laquer Super Liner

Eyeliner is definitely not my forte. I can never get a straight line, I always end up messing something up and don't even get me started on feline flicks. As a result, I've always got my badly lined eyes peeled for a product that's really easy to use, as well as being really pigmented and having some stick. This month I found it, in the form of L'Oreal's Black Laquer Super Liner. It's got a very narrow sponge applicator which, as well as being fine, is quite sturdy, making it so easy to use. It dries to a kind of vinyl finish, which I love, and it's made my make up routine just that little bit easier this January. 

NARS//Pro-Prime Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

I used to use Urban Decay Primer Potion religiously, but when mine ran out, I fancied a bit of a change, and I'm really loving the alternative I chose. I found that the Urban Decay primer left my lids looking a bit dry and patchy as I got through more and more of the product, but I haven't had that issue with NARS (yet - it is still early days). Additionally, my eyeshadows blend a lot better on top of this product, and I love the doe foot applicator, as I find it very difficult to waste product this way. So far it's a winner in my books.

What were your favourite products this January? Were you loving any of the same things that I was? Let me know!

S.

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Sumptuous Scarlets: My Favourite Red Lipsticks

Revlon/YSL/Tom Ford/Rimmel/MAC

There's something really glamorous and sophisticated about a red lip. Although I always tend to gravitate towards a bronzy smokey eye, I love experimenting with red lipsticks, and here are some of my absolute favourite colours for creating that beautiful scarlet pout.

MAC//Lady Danger

This gorgeous matte, almost neon looking, orangey red gets the most use from me in the summer. I love how chic it looks, and I think it's really reminiscent of a 50s Hollywood starlet. At least that's what I feel like when I have it on. I like to wear it with floral dresses and huge sunglasses; the epitome of summertime sophistication.

YSL Rouge Volupte//Red Muse

This glossy little number is the perfect Christmas red for me. Bright and shiny, I love to pair it with a gold eye for a pretty festive look. As is the case for all YSL lip products, the packaging is so beautiful, an added bonus. And it smells like cherries. Delicious. The only thing I find is that the glossy finish doesn't last very long unless paired with a lip liner, but as I use one most of the time anyway, it isn't an issue for me. 

Rimmel Lasting Finish By Kate//01

This long lasting lipstick is about as dark as I can go before I start looking a bit gothic (it's a lot darker than it's shown up on camera). It's the most burgundy colour in my collection and, despite being the cheapest, I find this to be the lipstick with the longest wear. It's become my go to red if I know I'm going for a boozy dinner with friends, as I know I can go all evening without reapplying and still have perfect peckers at the end of the night! 

Revlon Super Matte Lustrous Lipstick//Really Red

This is the best true red I've found, and the first red that got me really excited about lipsticks. Claiming to be matte, it's definitely not as much so as Lady Danger, giving a more velvet finish, but I find this to be perfect for more dry lips. Anything too matte has my lips flaking like nobodies business. I also find this lipstick to be the one that transfers the least. Rarely do I find it printed on the rim of glasses when I'm out and about.

Tom Ford Lip Colour//Scarlet Rouge

The newest addition to my lipstick collection, I got this beauty for Christmas and I was so excited when I unwrapped it!  There's something so opulent about Tom Ford, and this is absolutely going to be my lipstick of choice for special occasions. I haven't had the chance to properly wear it out yet, so I can't testify to it's longevity, but it feels very silky and luxurious and is super hydrating, giving a luminous but not quite glossy finish. A lot brighter on my lips than it looks in the bullet, a quality I love, I feel like a superstar when I'm sporting this beautiful creamy lip product, even if I am just swanning about the house in my dressing gown.

So there you are. My favourite red lippies. All slightly different, all beautiful products. What are your favourite red lipsticks? Have you tried any of mine? Let me know!

S.

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Best of Beauty 2013

There's been a fair few posts like this one floating around since the rather too hasty arrival of the New Year, and I personally love perusing the products that have seen fellow beauty junkies through the past four seasons. So I thought I'd throw my hat into the ring and try to narrow down my beauty favourites to five items that I couldn't have lived without in 2013.

Nars//Isolde

I'm a huge fan of bronze and gold eyeshadows, as they bring out the best in my baby blues. Top of the polls for me is NARS' eyeshadow duo in Isolde. A beautiful antique gold and the perfect bronze shade, this pretty pairing is a dream to blend, has great colour pay off, and has lasted forever! I wear them on pretty much a daily basis, and I'm still not even close to hitting pan! I find them equally wonderful for creating that bronzy summer effect, and the perfect golden Christmassy look. I really don't know what I would have done without this delectable duo for the past year. 

MAC//Charcoal Brown 

This may seem like a bit of a boring favourite but I'm struggling to remember a time when it wasn't in my make up bag. A product that I never switch out of my daily routine, I use it through my brows, to define my crease and, oh so occasionally, as an actual eyeshadow. Again, not the most exciting of colours but definitely a staple for me.

Dior//Diorskin Nude Shimmer Instant Illuminating Powder

I don't know what it is about this highlighter, but I just cannot get enough. It has a gorgeous mother of pearl sheen to it, and is subtle enough that I use it every day. When applied liberally, however, it's the perfect product for creating an amped up glowing complexion. J'adore.

bareMinerals//Original SPF 15 Foundation

For me, this is the ultimate foundation. I discovered it a couple of years ago and, whatever new bases I try, I always end up running back to this one. I have rather dry skin, and I rarely find liquid foundations I like that don't emphasise that, but this gives me the perfect amount of coverage without sticking to any dry patches. With it, I can achieve the very natural, dewy looking skin that I love, and it also has the added bonus of an SPF which, for pale gals like me, is a must. Appealing to my fellow porcelains, this foundation comes in a light enough shade for me. Rejoice! Granted, I do have to go for the lightest shade in their range, but still - it's a rare find, no?

MaxFactor//False Lash Effect Clump Defy Mascara

This one just happens to be the one I'm coveting at the moment, but I'd settle for anything from the MaxFactor False Lash Effect range. I favour volume over length when it comes to lashes, and I've yet to find another mascara, high end or otherwise, that plumps up my lash line like these babies do.

It actually proved extremely difficult to pick just five products that I couldn't have gone without last year. I agonised over what deserved a spot, what the criteria should be, and there were a number  of products that I absolutely love that didn't quite make the cut. I'm happy with my pick though, and you never know, some of the runners up might elbow their way into a top five in 2014. But that's one for another year. 

What are your favourite products of 2013? Do they match any of mine? Let me know! 

S. 

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Lady Danger by MAC. My new lipstick love.

Yesterday, I decided to treat myself to a cheeky little shopping trip, and amongst my new stash of goodies was this little beauty. The one and only Lady Danger by MAC. I think it has become my new favourite lippy overnight, and here's why.

I've always been a fan of the more orangey toned make up products. I think they suit my skin tone better, and I have plenty in my collection already. I was always a bit sceptical about buying Lady Danger as it is a matte lipstick and, having quite dry skin and lips, matte is not often my friend. At £14 a pop, MAC lipsticks are a bit of an investment, so I didn't want to splurge on something that might not look great. But I adore the colour so much that I decided, what the hell, YOLO and all that, and I'm so glad I did.

The lipstick is a bright, orangey red. It has quite a vintage, 1950s vibe to it, which I love (I often think that I was born in the wrong era. Woe is me). It's very glamorous, and makes me feel like some kind of old school Hollywood starlet when I wear it. And it's always nice to feel gorgeous every once in a while.

Also, I actually really love that it's matte. I think that it really adds to the glamour of it, and it suits the colour perfectly. I often find with matte lipsticks that they feel quite uncomfortable and drying, and end up making my lips quite flaky. Not an attractive look, I can assure you. The only ones I have ever loved are the Revlon matte lipsticks, the rest of them have never seemed to work for me. However, this one feels really comfy to wear. I don't feel that dreaded cracking every time I smile, which is wonderful. I definitely wouldn't put it on without exfoliating my lips beforehand, as I think it would just stick in all the cracks and crevices, but I have to do that with most lipsticks any way, so it's not really that surprising.

It also has a fair bit of staying power, which is great. I wore it out to dinner and drinks last night, and I only had to reapply once! Amazing! I also feel that that is to be expected of any lipstick when you're eating, so bravo MAC, very well done.

With flash. Excuse the less than sleek hair.

Without flash.

I'm absolutely in love with Lady Danger, and I cannot wait to wear it all summer long!

Do you have this lipstick? Do you love it as much as I do? Which lipstick could you not live without? Let me know!

S.

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