MAC Lipstick in Fanfare

Everyone raves about MAC lipsticks, and for good reason. There are certain shades that get a hell of a lot of attention, but Fanfare is one that I think is overlooked.

MAC Fanfare (£15) is described as a 'mid-toned yellow pink' on the MAC website. I'd agree with that, but the description does it no justice. It's such a gorgeous mid toned pink that isn't at all dull, not blue-toned, it's bright, cheerful and just so pretty.
Fanfare is a cremesheen formula, this means it's a creamy formulation with mid level colour payoff and a slightly glossy finish. Cremesheen lipsticks give a gorgeous look on the lips, they're really soft (keep out of the sun!) and they're not at all drying. As they are quite creamy they aren't the longest wearing, but for me this lasts a good 3 hours, minimum, which I think is pretty damn good.
I absolutely love this lipstick; it feels so luxurious, both because of the branding and the formulation and the shade is stunning. It looks great when my skin is more tanned, but looks equally nice when I'm on the paler side. Fanfare is a winner!

What's your favourite MAC lipstick?

x

The Right Red Lipstick For You

Choosing a red lipstick can be a tricky task. If you just go into a shop and pick up a pretty red without thinking about how it'll suit you it can lead to it being a waste of money. I've put together some tips on how to work out which type of red lipstick is best for you. Just a little disclaimer before I get started, everyone has different opinions on what works with different skin tones, the tips I'm giving you are just a general rule but it doesn't always mean they'll apply as there are so many factors to consider (skin tone, undertones, hair colour, other makeup you're wearing, etc).

Firstly you should work out what skin tone you have. Take off all your makeup and look in the mirror, decide if you're fair, sun kissed, olive toned, dark, etc, and if you have pink or yellow undertones to your skin. If you're not sure how to do this you can do the vein test, stand in daylight and make a fist, look at the veins in your wrist, if they're mainly blue it's a sign of cool undertones (pink), and green is a sign of warm undertones (yellow).

If you have fair skin with pink undertones opt for soft coral or pinky reds, such as NARS Flamenco. as they're not so overpowering. If you have yellow undertones berry reds will look good on you as they're slightly warmer. If you feel you have more blue-ish undertones to your fair skin go for a more cool toned red.

Berry red looks great on Anne's pale skin

Soft pinky red

If you feel like you want to wear a bright red lip but you are fair then don't despair (I'm a poet), it can be done! If you wear a bright red lip with very minimal makeup on your eyes it won't look right, the lips will be too overpowering. However, if you pair the true red with several coats of mascara and some dark black eyeliner you should be able to pull it off as the eyes will balance the look out.

Emma can pull of the bold lip because she's paired
it with dark lashes and eyeliner

Keira can wear this orangey lip as
 her dark eye makeup balances

Medium skin toned girls (olive or sunkissed) you're lucky as most reds will probably suit you. Berry reds, orange reds and true reds will look great with your colouring. Blue toned reds should suit you too, which is great as they have the added bonus of making your teeth look extra white, like MAC Russian Red.

Orange red

True red looks pretty on Kourtney's
skintone

Medium brown skin tone, warmer/yellow reds will look great on you, such as MAC Lady Danger.
Dark skinned girls stay away from anything too bright! Stick to cool shades that have deeper colouring to them - think dark cherry or a brick shade, such as MAC Diva or Dare You.

Rihanna looks like she's wearing Lady Danger -
it suits her perfectly

This dark cherry red suits Jennifer's dark skin

I hope you found this post helpful. If you're still stuck maybe try buying some really cheap red lipsticks from somewhere like MUA to see which shade suits you before you get a more expensive one.

What's your go-to red lipstick?

x

There's still time to enter my GIVEAWAY here!

March Wishlist 2014

It's March! One of my favourite months of the year, mainly because it's my birthday month - yay! And what better month to do a wish list post than my birthday month?
I also did a skincare wish list not long ago, so be sure to check that out! I'm hoping I can acquire some of those products this month because my skin is feeling not the best.

MAC Fanfare lipstick  looks absolutely gorgeous. It's a warm pink colour with coral undertones - swoon! Perfect for Spring/Summer.
Under eye dark circles is something I suffer from, I hate them and I feel like they drag my face down and make me look so tired. The Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Bisque may just be the solution to this problem, everyone raves about it and I think I need to give it a go. It's a pricey product at £18.50 but if it masks my circles I'll be happy.
I love a good liquid eyeliner, I wear it most days normally with a little flick, and although I love my maybelline gel eyeliner it does take a bit of time. The Soap & Glory Supercat Eyeliner would be a lot easier, it's meant to be a great product!
I've wanted a simple gold necklace for ages now, and I've fallen for this cute Zig-Zag Necklace from ASOS.  I love how simple it is, I think it would look so pretty on.
Contouring is something I always do, I feel naked without it! However, I'm pretty pale and although I adore my bronzers sometimes I feel like they're too dark to contour with, so I did some research and this NYX Blush in Taupe has got great reviews from pale skinned girls who needed a contour product.  Need! It's under £7 too, bargain!
One of my all time favourite lip products are the Revlon Lip Butters, and the shade Wild Watermelon looks so gorgeous. It's a pretty pinky red. These lip butters are so perfect for summer, they feel so light on the lips, are moisturising and they have the most gorgeous colours ever.
MAC Blush in Fleur Power is described as described as a soft pinish-coral - that's me sold! I'm yet to try any MAC blushes as well.
MAC Paint Pot in Painterly is one of the most raved about point pots in the collection. It's a pinky nude that's perfect as an eyeshadow base, something I do not own.
Nars Blush in Deep Throat (yeah, heads up, Nars products have rude names, try to overlook it). This blush is supposed to be the less 'in your face' vision of the Orgasm blush (warned you about the names). I have a dupe for the Orgasm blush and I adore it but I do find it a little bit too much, so Deep Throat looks gorgeous. It's not as bright and it has more of a sheen rather than lots of sparkles. Nars blushes aren't cheap, but their products are outstanding.
I'm running really low on my current daytime foundation, Rimmel Match Perfection, and although I do like it I want to try something new. Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation sounds great for me, it's medium coverage but light and moisturising. Every time I'm in Boots I pick it up but can never bring myself to buy it as it's more expensive than the Rimmel one, but I really feel I need it now! I've already worked out my shade is 51…get me to Boots! I also want to try MAC Studio Sculpt in NW15.
I have two eyeshadow palettes in this wish list, both are neutral palettes because I'm obsessed with them. The first being Soap & Glory Lid Stuff in What's Nude, this is a gorgeous quad with 3 matte shades and one shimmery - I like matte shades at the moment and I have very few of them so this would be very welcome to my collection. Urban Decay Naked 2 palette is something that's been on my wishlisht since I discovered makeup, it just looks like an amazing palette!
My hair has been feeling very dry recently, I'm not sure whether it's due to the weather or the fact it needs a cut - something I'm sorting out next week, bye bye long locks. It could also be that I haven't been using an intense conditioner every week like I used to, I think I need to start up again. I've ran out of my Tresseme Keratin one, and my TiGi S Factor one, I love both of them a lot but I want to try the L'Oreal Ever Riche Mask Pot. It's a deep treatment for dry to very dry hair, it's meant to work miracles which I need right now to get my hair back into top condition.
I only have 1 jacket (not counting my huge winter coat) which is leather, and for Spring and Summer that's not always the best thing to wear, so I've found this gorgeous mint green jacket on ASOS that I think I need in my life. I don't think I need to say much, just look at the picture! It's so nice.
Two little extras are some Spring friendly boots, these ones from ASOS/River Island are so nice, I like the leather and think they'd be great for all year round. And lastly a book, Shopaholic Abroad by Sophie Kinsella, it's the second book in the series, I read the first recently and thought it was really good!

That's it, my HUGE wish list for March! 

What's something you would like this month?

x


Not long left to ENTER MY GIVEAWAY!

Bronzer & Highlighter As Eyeshadow

One of the big makeup trends for Spring is shimmery, golden, warm eyes, one of my favourite eye makeup looks! There are loads of shadows out there that will do an amazing job creating this look, but the easier option is to use your bronzer and highlighter.

I love a multi purpose product, it makes doing your makeup that much quicker, easier and if you're carrying your makeup around with you it means there's less to carry.
To create gorgeous golden eyes first apply your bronzer all over your eyelid, making sure to layer it up so there's less chance of creasing. I'm using the Nars Laguna Bronzer, which is lovely because it's so warm and matte. Bring it down along your lower lash line as well.
After you've applied the bronzer then go in with your powder highlighter over the top, this will create that gorgeous shimmer and sparkle to your eyes. I'm using the MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle, this is perfect as it's got a beautiful metallic finish.
There you have it, golden shimmery eyes - right on trend for Spring 2014!

Will you be giving this a go?

x

MY MAKEUP GIVEAWAY

Choosing Your Foundation

As foundation is the base to your makeup it's important you find the right one for you. There are lots of things to consider when buying a foundation, here are some things to help you.

The Right Formula For You

When you choose a foundation you should consider your skin type. If you have oily skin you might be best going for a matte finish foundation, or one that is oil free. Whereas if you have dry skin it's best to go for something more dewy. Also, if you have sensitive skin it's best to stay clear of fragranced foundations, mineral foundations might be a good bet.
If you have combination skin it shouldn't matter too much which finish you go for, it's down to personal preference.

Coverage

Decide what sort of coverage you'd like your foundation to have. Consider what state your skin is in, if you have blemish-free skin then you won't need full coverage, if you are blemish-prone you'll probably want medium-full coverage. Another thing to consider is the season, in winter skin tends to be in worse condition so you may want a heavy coverage, but make sure it's creamy for that dehydrated skin! In the warmer months it's a lot more pleasant to be wearing a lighter coverage foundation, and something that'll last a long time in the heat.

Finding Your Perfect Colour Match

Normally I find it quite easy to colour match myself - applying on your hand isn't really a good way to judge a foundation shade, your hands tend not to be the same shade as your face. Apply a little tester amount to your neck, blend down and if the colour disappears it's a good match for you.
At highend makeup counters it may be more difficult to colour match yourself, sometimes they don't have samples out, perhaps there's much more choice so you can't decide, or maybe you're in MAC and are confused with the N's and C's (N means warm - best for pinkish skin, C means cool - best for yellow or olive toned skin) - If this is the case then ask for help. There'll be someone who works in the store to help colour match you perfectly. Something important to consider is a lot of foundations will oxidate, which means they can get darker after they've been on the skin for a while, so it's best to go away for a bit and see if this happens before purchasing your product.

SPF or No SPF

For an everyday foundation SPF is always a good idea, most foundations will have an SPF in them but it's always good to check. If they don't then make sure your moisturiser does!
However, if you're looking for a foundation for nighttime use only (going to clubs, parties, dinners) then an SPF free foundation will photograph better - you won't get that ghostly white face SPF gives you with flash photography.

I hope you found this post helpful!

Happy foundation shopping!

x

MAC Stereo Rose - Re-release!

MAC, as they so often do, are re-releasing one of their most popular limited edition products into a new limited edition collection, and it's the much talked about Mineralize Skinfinish in Stereo Rose.

If you've been an avid beauty blog follower for a while you'll have no doubt heard about this product before. It was first released years ago, then re-released last year, and will again be rereleased this year into the forthcoming Fantasy Of Flowers collection - which will be available 6th March (write it in your diary).

Stereo Rose is a gorgeous coral blush, with hints of pink and golden shimmer running through it - much like Nars Orgasm blush, and there are many other dupes out there. The shade itself looks very much like it would suit and compliment any skin tone. The golden shimmer running through will help highlight, so if you're in a rush there's no need to do both, and the colour will really help warm up your complexion.
Mineralize Skinfinishe's are really soft powders with a metallic finish to them, they're great for giving a healthy glow and a gorgeous sheen to the skin.

Stereo Rose will be ready for you to buy on 6th March this year, priced at £22.
Be quick, this will undoubtably sell out fast!

Beauty Bloggers Tag!

I've seen a few bloggers doing this 'Beauty Bloggers Tag' and always find reading them very interesting, so I thought I'd do it myself! I hope you enjoy this sort of post.

Why did you start blogging and how long have you been blogger for?

I started blogging about a year ago, but started putting posts up regularly about 5 months ago. I started blogging for a few reasons - I had been reading beauty blogs for a while and was inspired by other bloggers to start, I was really starting to get into makeup, skincare, etc and wanted a way of sharing my experiences with everyone and getting to know other bloggers who had the same interests as me!

Who's blog did you fall in love with first?

Honestly? I can't remember. I'd say Zoella's was probably the first I found and read every single post, but Anna from Vivianna Does Makeup and Hannah from A Little Beauty Spot (who's new blog is here) were two of the others I remember reading at the beginning of discovering the beauty blogging world!

What was the first blogosphere hyped about product that you bought?

Was it worth the hype?

That would be Nars Luguna bronzer! Every blogger these is seems to adore this product, and I was so intrigued so I bought it and yes, it's definitely worth the hype. I love it and use it all the time! 

What are you five favourite things about blogging and being a beauty blogger?

1. Having my own little space on the internet to share my thoughts and views on different products.

2. Other bloggers! I love discovering new blogs, reading reviews, favourites, wish lists, etc (I could spend hours going through Bloglovin' looking at the new posts from that day), and getting to know people. I've actually made a good few friends from doing this!

3. Discovering products. I find that unless you read beauty blogs really amazing products can pass you by! I'm also someone who does research before I buy anything, so finding out how people got on with things is great before I go out and buy it myself.

4. The creative side. I feel like since I left school I don't do anything creative, but having this blog enables me to take photographs, decide how to lay things out and also experiment with different products, which I find a great way be creative. 

5. Comments! I love getting comments on my blog posts from all of you, it really makes my day.

What have you learnt from being a beauty blogger?

When I first started blogging I didn't realise that writing blog posts can be quite hard work, a lot of thought goes into every part of a post and also design and layout of the website itself. I learnt never to compare yourself to other bloggers…if I did that I'd feel like a failure, because I don't have the largest amount of followers, but that doesn't matter! It's all about enjoying what you do.

What have you changed since becoming a beauty blogger?

Makeup storage…I've got a lot more makeup now, so I had to invest in some proper storage. I've also changed the way I do my makeup - I've picked up a lot of tips and tricks along the way.

What advice would you give to a beauty blogger starting out?

Don't do this just to get free products! That won't happen straight away, if ever, and you need to put a lot of work in before so. Also, if you don't have a passion for what you're doing it will come across in the posts. Don't write unless you really want to - again, it comes across in the posts, I've read a lot of blogposts that lack so much because the blogger obviously 'couldn't be bothered' on that day. Make good use of social media - twitter, Facebook, instagram, etc - it will really help your blog to grow.

What are your top 5 makeup brands?

This is no particular order!  MAC - I think I had to say that, it's surely in every beauty bloggers top 5, I just wish they were a tad cheaper. Rimmel - I think they're the best high street makeup brand, they do great and affordable foundations, lipsticks (especially the Kate Moss range), blushes, eyeshadows, eyeliners (the best), concealer, etc. Revlon - mainly for their lip products. Nars - ohhh their packaging and pigmentation makes me adore them. Soap & Glory - I haven't tried many things from their makeup range yet, but what I have tried, swatched and looked at has been amazing quality.

Recommend your top 5 beauty products

(reviews linked)

Kate Moss for Rimmel Lipsticks - I think these are the best highstreet/drugstore lipsticks out there, the price is so affordable, the colour range is fantastic, the lasting power is long, the packaging is great and the feel and finish is up there with the high end brands.

Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate - A night time oil that you apply post toner and pre moisturiser, it adds moisture to the skin, doesn't break me out, and helps fight against imperfections.

Collection's Lasting Perfection concealer - beauty blogger favourite and lives up to the hype - high coverage, non-drying, cheap and lasts all day.

MAC Mineralize Skinfish in Soft & Gentle - the most beautiful highlighter there is. 

Sleek Contour/Face Form Palette -  the contour palette consists of bronzer and highlighter, and the face form has a blush included as well. All highly pigmented, well packaged, and very affordable. A really great product if you're just getting into makeup. 

My Beauty Wishlist #1

I always have an endless wish list of beauty items that I'd like, today I thought I'd share some of those things with you (I had to miss out about 73974 things because it was so long).

1. Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick from Soap & Glory in Nudist (swatch in picture too). I have heard Fleur rave about this so much and it's made me want to try it. I love lip products that are in that sort of packaging (like the Revlon lip stains), but these gloss sticks are supposed to look more shiny and are a lot more moisturising.

2. Bourjois Healthy Mix serum foundation. So many people seem to love this, and people with all skin types too. It's supposed to be a very light foundation, something which I really need to invest in as my lightest coverage foundation is Wake Me Up by Rimmel and that's still medium coverage.

3. Mac 217 blending brush.  Every brush I own is by Real Techniques, I love them a lot, but I feel I should venture into Mac makeup brushes as everyone seems to love them, despite the hefty price tag. The 217 is perfect for blending eyeshadow out, something which I feel I need.

4. Alpha H Liquid Gold. This stuff is supposed to be a miracle worker, you put it on at night and in the morning your skin apparently looks SO much healthier, brighter, clearer and just nicer. It contains high levels of acid so it helps cellar renewable and it diminishes the appearance of pores. The only thing that puts me off is it's £31 for 100ml…not cheap.

5. MAC powder blush in Melba. This blush is described as a 'soft coral peach' BAM, I instantly want it. Coral and peach are my favourite blush colours. This is supposed to suit paler skin as well. WIN.

6. Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Kalahari.  Neutral eyeshadows are my favourite, so this duo of 'gold confection and sugared cocoa', which are a light brown and a darker more earthy and slightly purple brown, are right up my street.

7. Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette. I don't own either of the Naked palettes, I know I know, I am deprived. I prefer the look of the Naked 2 as the colours aren't so dark or out there, a lot more my type of thing…I want.

8.Michael Todd Honey and Oat Deep Pore Cleanser. I have just run out of my second bottle of Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish, which I do love but I really want to give something new a try. I ADORE the Michael Todd Blue Green Algae Toner (review here), so it only seems logical that I would try their cleansers next. It says this cleanser is very moisturising, removes makeup, and cleans deep into the pores. Only thing is this says it's 'lightly foaming', as we all know (I hope) foaming cleansers or face washes are bad…so hmm.

9. MAC lipstick in Crosswires. As I am a major lipstick lover it seems mad to me that I am yet to try a MAC lipstick. Crosswires is first on my list! It is a cremesheen so will be nice and creamy and moisturising and the colour is beautiful, a gorgeous pinky orange.

That's it for my beauty wishlist.

What's top of your wishlist?

x

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle Review

Today I thought I would share with you my favourite product at the moment! I know so many people rave about this, and yes, I have jumped on the Mac Mineralize Skinfinish bandwagon! But ohhh it's so lovely.

This product is a highlighter, I use it on my cheek bones, top of my nose and under my eyebrows to highlight my face. I just swirl my contour brush in there, tap off the excess so it's not too overloaded, and sweep it in the desired areas of the face. It makes the face look a lot slimmer and 'highlights' those areas of your face! The texture of this skin finish is beautiful, so velvety soft and light! I feels just amazing to put onto the skin, it doesn't make your skin feel clogged up or heavy, it's just really nice. It gives a wonderful glow to the face and leaves me looking a lot healthier, more awake and brighter.
I think highligher is quite an easy product to get wrong, some have WAY too much glitter or look way too heavy....looking like you've dipped your face in a bowl of glitter glue isn't a good look! But this gives a perfect dewy, soft finish to the skin and I think it would be very hard for someone to go wrong with this.

This looks wonderful in photographs, especially if you're using a flash because the light picks up the shimmer extremely well. The colour looks quite pinky, or even a tad orange in the pan, but it doesn't come across at all like that on the skin. It's quite metallicy, sparkly and a light peachy gold colour....PERFECT for highlighting.

It's so pigmented, you only need such a tiny amount of this product, a little definitely goes a long way! So it's going to last me a while which I'm super happy about; I know people who have had this for years and it still looks brand new!

The packaging is great also, standard Mac packaging. It's very smart looking, easy to keep clean and won't pop open in your makeup bag....I do wish it had a mirror though for on the go touch ups, but luckily it does last ages and ages so I will let them off for that one!

Heavy swatch - MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft & Gentle

I think this product would suit all skin colours because you can build it up, and all skin types because it is very gentle on the skin (as it's a mineral based product). 

I can't recommend this product more, I can't think of anything negative to say about it really, it would be such a great addition to anyone's make-up bag, would be used all year round and it will last AGES, which makes the high price tag of £21.50 a lot more worth it!

BUY IT HERE

Do you have this Mac MSF in Soft & Gentle? Or will you be trying it?

What's your favourite beauty product at the moment?

x