REVIEW | REVLON UTLRA HD MATTE LIPCOLORS

Liquid lipsticks are definitely having a moment right now, most of the big make up brands seem to have new collections of them out and it's pretty easy to see why they're so popular.  I first noticed these Revlon Ultra HD Matte Lipcolors in Boots, and the style of them reminded me of the ones by Hourglass.  I like the design, they've got a high end feel to them and they are not just the standard lipgloss kind of tubes that you would usually get from a drugstore brand.

I picked up the shades HD Love (red), HD Seduction (nude) and HD Obsession (pink) and I already know that I need to pick up the rest!  The pigment is amazing, as you can tell from the swatches in the photo, even the nude has good colour payoff - which can sometimes be a bit hit and miss with this kind of formula.  

They apply really easily with the small doe foot applicators; the formula feels really sheer and even moisturising, you kind of forget that it is a matte finish because it doesn't feel heavy or drying at all.  The pink and red shades are really bright and vibrant, and the strong colour helps to give the illusion of fuller lips which is absolutely fine by me!  The nude is a pretty subtle shade but it is a good warm colour that lasts a lot longer than most others that I own.  

At the moment these lipsticks are £8.99 each or 3 for 2 in Boots, which is a good way to get a few at once, as one of these is not really enough! 

I'm really impressed with them so far, Revlon has always been one of my favourite drugstore brands and I think that they do lip products in particular very well.  These are excellent quality for the price, and I think the design is cute and perfect for carrying on the go.  

Have you tried these lipsticks?  What do you think of them? xx

NUDE LIPSTICKS I'M LOVING RIGHT NOW

Today I thought I'd do a quick little run through of some nude lipsticks that I've been loving lately.  When at work throughout the week, I try and stick to a natural make up look (i.e. lots of make up used to try and create it!), so I'm always going through my nude lipsticks and keeping different ones in my handbag.  

MAC High Tea is from the Lustre finish range, and is subtle yet really pretty on the lips.  The colour is very soft but it's perfect for that 'my lips but better' thing - ideal for when you really want the minimal look.  

Maybelline Nude Sensational lipstick in Velvet Beige is one of my all time favourites, and is an almost perfect dupe for MAC Velvet Teddy.  It is a darker nude and perfect if your looking for that 90s grunge/Kylie Jenner thing.

Charlotte Tilbury Nude Kate has more of a matte finish, and I find this looks best when I blend it in with my fingers.  The colour is a more beige shade than the rest and it's a great luxury staple.  

Less of a lipstick and more of a gloss, Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector in Nude Shimmer is a beautiful balmy product that gives a lovely glossy colour without the horrible tackiness that you can sometimes get when wearing a gloss.  I love wearing this when I'm going for a luminous look rather than a matte one.  

I could have picked so many more, but these are the four products that I find I'm going for the most lately.  What nude lipsticks are your favourites? xx

4 FESTIVE RED LIPSTICKS

I love a red lip all year round, but it always feels good to have the ready-made excuse of winter/Christmas to rock them even more than usual.  I have said before that orange-toned reds are the ones that suit me best'; three out of four of these are of this type and one is a lovely darker pink/red. 

So, to start of there is the Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in the shade 1975 Red.  I couldn't have a lipstick post without including one of hers could I?!  I love the brand so much and think the formula of the lipsticks is perfect; this shade is a bright red with a matte finish.  

Then we have MAC Dangerous, which as you can see from the swatch is a shade lighter than the first and also more orange.  This one also has a matte finish and I love wearing this with bold black eyes.  

Another MAC favourite is All Fired Up, which is the darker pink red of the bunch.  This one reminds me of red wine, and I love to wear it when I have a bit of a tan and coppery eyes.  

Maybelline Color Drama lip pencil in Fab Orange is a great drugstore dupe for MAC Dangerous, but I love using this because the pencil style makes it easy to apply and means I can make my lips a bit fuller if I want.  

What are your favourite shades for this time of year?  Do you like any of these? xx

MAC LIPSTICK COLLECTION part 2 | REDS & PINKS

Clockwise from top: Full Fuchsia, Dangerous, Impassioned, All Fired Up

I've gone through the nudes and now it's the turn of the bright colours in my MAC lipstick collection to take the spotlight.  I definitely don't feel like I own enough red shades, especially in comparison to many other bloggers!  But I have to say that these four that I do own are amazing and cover many aspects of the pink/red spectrum.  

The first one is Full Fuchsia, which I've spent all summer wearing and much of autumn so far too.  The clue is in the name, this shade is a bright and vibrant fuchsia pink which has a super moisturising and creamy finish - it is super flattering and I love it.

Next is Dangerous, which is a matte red orange shade that is the newest addition to the collection.  I mention all the time that orange toned reds are my favourite, and this one is no different; it's bright, bold and it doesn't wash my complexion out so it's a great all rounder that completes any look perfectly.  

Impassioned is one of the first MAC lipsticks I ever bought, and it is the ideal shade if you want that juicy Barbie pink look!  I love this one because it is a pink with red tones rather than blue, which I find suits me better.

Lastly there is All Fired Up, which is a deep and matte red wine shade.  I didn't expect to love this as much as I do, but I have been wearing it a lot lately day to day; the matte finish makes it ideal for daytime as it is bold yet also slightly understated.  

Please give me your recommendations for any red or pink shades to add to my collection!  Do you have any of of these lipsticks? xx

7 SHADES OF RED LIPSTICK

L - R: Charlotte Tilbury 1975 Red, Topshop Rio Rio, Revlon Lip Butter Wild Watermelon, Maxfactor Cherry Kiss, Rimmel Kate Kiss of Life, MAC All Fired Up, Maybelline Color Drama Light it Up

Who doesn't love a red lip?!  I'm not gonna lie, the best part of this post for me by far was getting the photos - it was so satisfying seeing them all together like that!  The red lip is timeless, classic, and there is a shade to suit everyone.  Over the years my make up addiction has seen me particularly fall in love with lipsticks, and I've managed to accumulate quite a few reds into my collection.  Being so pale, I've tried many different shades of red and found that only certain tones suit me - these 7 shades are my favourites and cover all types of finish.  

For a matte finish, there is Charlotte Tilbury 1975 Red, Topshop Rio Rio, MAC All Fired Up and Maybelline Color Drama in Light it Up are perfect choices.  1975 Red is a classic orange toned red that was inspired by Gerry Hall's infamous Vogue Cover back in the 70s.  I find that orange tones suit me best and this is one of my favourite purchases  - the formula is totally perfect too.  MAC All Fired Up is a more pink toned red, which I love to wear on a night out with some winged eyeliner.  

For a more creamy finish, Maxfactor Cherry Kiss has a glossy yet bold finish that leaves my lips feeling moisturised, and for a more subtle look Revlon Lip Butter in Wild Watermelon is the way to go.  This is a juicy red colour that has a sheer finish, so it's a good way to get some colour without it being out and out red.  

Apologies for the gratuitous lipstick photos in this post, but don't they look pretty?!  What are you favourite red lipsticks?  Do you like any of these? xx

CHARLOTTE TILBURY | MATTE REVOLUTION LIPSTICK in '1975 Red'

Charlotte Tilbury.  That woman really can do no wrong, and her latest collaboration with photographer Norman Parkinson is proof of this.  I am always adding make up from her range to my wishlist, but when I saw her latest addition to the Matte Revolution lipstick range I had to add it to my basket straight away.  My bank account said 'please don't do this', but my heart said 'YES YES YES' so that obviously won, and I'm now the very proud and excited owner of this beautiful new lipstick in the shade 1975 red.  Inspired by the flirty and glamorous 1970s, this red is orange toned and a bright, vibrant shade that is perfect for summer nights (and days).  As with the rest of the collection, it is a velvet matte lipstick, the lasting power is super impressive and somehow it manages to make my lips look fuller.  I really love the formula of the matte revolution shades, and I love this sunset red colour and how looks against my awkward colourless complexion!   

The Matte Revolution lipsticks are £23.00 each and when I bought it from Charlotte Tilbury's own website, I got two free samples!  

Have you tried any Charlotte Tilbury lipsticks?  Do you like this shade? xx

MAC VELVET TEDDY & ITS DUPES

We all know that MAC Velvet Teddy is the lipstick of the moment, thanks to Kylie Jenner and her perfect pout.  But nude lipsticks in general are all over the beauty counters lately, and I've found a few that come pretty close to the MAC favourite!

At £15.50 each, MAC lipsticks are definitely more at the higher end of the price scale, and I recently picked my Velvet Teddy up at duty free so got a nice couple of ££ off.  I'd like to say that I was somewhere hot and exotic at the time, but I was at Edinburgh airport (we actually had an amazing time, but the weather was lousy and it was hotter back home!).  

So anyway, the first dupe I've found is Maybelline Color Sensational in Velvet Beige, which as you can see from the swatch is a tiny bit lighter and it is also less matte.  

My favourite of the bunch, as you can see by how much I've already used, is Maybelline Color Drama Lip Pencil in Nude Perfection, which is very similar to the NARS lip pencils, but this colour is a gorgeous nude shade that looks almost identical to Velvet Teddy when on.  

NYX Mauve is a lip pencil that works primarily as a liner, but I find it works really well as a lipstick and the colour has been compared to MAC Whirl - which in turn is the perfect match with Velvet Teddy!  I think NYX Mauve works particularly well when worn underneath Topshop Saint -  which sounds odd but the two shades really compliment each other and the matte of the lip pencil is balanced out with the more sheer finish of Saint, and the result of the combination looks amazing.

I know that there are a lot more dupes for Velvet Teddy out there, so make sure you let me know what your favourites are!  Do you have any of these?  Or is the original your favourite? xx

LIPSTICK | PRETTY PINKS

Another day, another lipstick post.  There's something quite nice though about photographing bright and colourful lipsticks as opposed to the more neutral ones, or is that just me?!  Summer is almost here and that means there is no excuse not to go all out and wear a bold and beautiful shade of pink on your lips, there's a shade for everyone - but obvs you wouldn't just stop at one!  

Hot summer evenings (fingers crossed for the uk) mean deeper darker shades - cue MAC All Fired Up.  It's a rich, cherry pink with mauve undertones and I love the matte, full finish.  This is perfect for wearing with floral prints I find, and looks good with simple, minimal eye make up.  

Tanya Burr lipgloss in Picnic in the Park is a girly, candy pink colour that looks really pretty and gives a soft but bright pop of colour which is super sleek and thankfully doesn't leave you with the dreaded sticky lips situation.  

Topshop Macaroon is a beautiful coral pink/orange shade with a matte finish and really impressive staying power.  The quality and finish of these lipsticks is really similar to MAC I find, only cheaper!  Macaroon is a more lighter shade than the others, but the colour is opaque and is ideal if you're not up for going full on barbie pink just yet.  

Maybelline Colour Drama lip pencil in I Love Coral is a colour that's along the same lines as Maaroon, only a bit brighter and a good choice if you want to build the colour up gradually and create a fuller shape.  These pencils are my holy grails these days, they are easy to use if you want to overline your lips just a tad, there's no bleeding out of colour at the edges (unlike with certain liquid lipsticks), and you can either apply a bold swipe of it or pat on a small amount and smudge it in with your fingers!

YSL Sheer Candy Volupte lipstick is the high end choice, this shade is 019 Exotic Pitaya, which is a vibrant and juicy pink.  The colour looks almost neon in the photo, but it applies very sheer - almost like a lip butter - and feels like lip balm.  It is incredibly moisturising, my lips feels so soft as soon as I apply it, and the finish is subtle and not dissimilar to the Revlon Lip Butter range.  This is the perfect product for any minimal make up look, or for lazy days where you just want a hint of colour to make your lips really pop. 

So there are a few of my favourite summery pink shades, there's one of every type thrown in there for day and for night!  What shades do you love for summer?  Have you tried any of these? xx

SPRING LIPSTICK PICKS | HIGH END vs DRUGSTORE

I do love a good bright lipstick, and spring is the perfect time to dig out or buy some fresh new shades.  I love to wear reds and pinks any time of the year, but there's no denying that spring and summer just feels right for them - and they go with all those summer dresses nicely too!  I tend to go for peachy and coral shades, because I know they suit me best and I just like them the most anyway.  

I've picked out two high end favourites and two drugstore beauties today, so there's the best of both worlds!

First up is Tom Ford in Spanish Rose, which I have raved about on here more than once before but with good reason.  This lipstick is a peachy nude which I have been wearing on an almost daily basis for a long time now, and worryingly it is now starting to shrink quite a bit - eek!  I really love how moisturising the formula is, which at £37 is the least you would expect of it (I got it for £33 in the Selfridges sale which makes me feel a tad better), and it lasts for ages too.  The colour is a great choice for daytime wear as it is still pretty subtle, and the nude is a your-lips-but-better kind of shade.  

Next there is my beloved Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in Sexy Sienna, which I reviewed in full yesterday so I'll keep it short here.  Obviously the finish is matte with this one, and the colour has more orangey tones in it, although it's still not too OTT and is still one that I wear on a daily basis.

On to the drugstore picks then, and I had to include my favourite Maybelline Color Drama lip pencil in the shade In With Coral, which is a vibrant pink toned colour with a velvety matte finish.  This is a great alternative to the high end brands and these pencils make it so easy to fill in a decent, fuller shape. 

Last up is Topshop lipstick in Macaroon, which is similar to the Maybelline shade but a little softer.  Again, the quality is fantastic for a budget buy, and I always find that Topshop lipsticks are very similar to MAC ones.  

I could have picked lots more but I kept it simple and stuck to four colours!  Have you tried any of these lipsticks?  What shades do you go for in spring? xx

FOTD | FT. CHARLOTTE TILBURY MATTE REVOLUTION LIPSTICK

Today I thought that I would dedicate a post to the beaut that is the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in the shade Sexy Sienna, which I was lucky enough to win in an Instagram competition.  I felt extra lucky because I was sent Sexy Sienna, a warm peachy orange shade which would have been the next lipstick I purchased from the Matte Revolution collection as I find oranges suit my skin tone best.  

The lipstick applies really well, which is helped by the angled shape of the product as it traces perfectly round the shape of your lips..if that makes sense!  The formula is quite creamy yet the finish is matte (clue in the name!) and the colour payoff is fantastic.  As you can see it is really pigmented and the colour is an orange/peach shade that is perfect for summer.  Obviously the packaging cannot be ignored, and if the product itself isn't enough to sell it, then the beautiful rose gold design is!  I love rose gold, and these lipsticks just look so beautiful on my dressing table that's it's almost worth getting them for that alone (almost!).

This range is branded as being able to create the look of fuller lips, which is a bold claim but somehow it works, and I think that my lips definitely look more shapely - especially my top lip - but I can't really explain how!  These lipsticks are definitely a treat at £24 each, but in my opinion they are totally worth it and earn their value.  

Have you tried any of the Matte Revolution lipsticks?  What do you think of them? xx

NEW CHARLOTTE TILBURY BITS | FT. NEW LIP MAGIC

A week or so ago I was lucky enough to win a competition held on Instagram by Charlotte Tilbury!  It was a Valentine's themed comp where you had to upload your favourite red lip look, which I did using her lipstick Walk of Shame - and I was one of the winners, yay!  I literally never win anything so this was a huge shock, and to win some of her amazing goodies was a massive bonus.  

I won her new Lip Magic, which is a balm, and one of her Matte Revolution lipsticks in the shade Sexy Sienna.  

Lip Magic is a balm that has many anti- ageing and healing properties that aim to make your lips look as good as they can and keep them in good condition too.  It includes Hyaluronic acid, which acts as a plumper and is found in other skincare products too, and Propolis - an ingredient created by bees which has super healing powers apparently!  

I'm not really one to go by names and claims alone, so I tried it out to see if it lives up to what it says.  I have to say that so far it very much does!  My lips are naturally very dry and this time of year especially they suffer and I am constantly getting them chapped and sore.  I have been using Lip Magic for around a week now, every day without fail, and I have most definitely noticed a big difference in my lips.  They appear much more hydrated, and somehow the lines on them seem much less noticeable (if that makes any sense!).  Of all the lip balms I have used, this one has worked well in the shortest amount of time and makes for a good base for lipstick rather than making it slide off.  Another thing you notice about this product straight away is the smell, it is beautiful and floral!  It is selling for £25 which is steep for a lip balm product, but I would definitely purchase this when the first runs out, as it is something that I think benefits my particularly dry lips.  As it is a pricey product, I would recommend it if you suffer like I do with dry lips.  

The lipstick in the shade Sexy Sienna is a beautiful soft coral with peachy gold tones.  I already own one lipstick in the range and this one was next on my wishlist, so I was super happy to receive it in the package!  I love the shade and it will look great with a bit of a tan and glowing skin.  

I'm so happy with these products and feel so lucky to have won them, they are of really high quality and although they are pricey I think that they are a treat and pretty much earn their price tag.  Have you tried either of these products? What do you think of them? xx

MAYBELLINE COLOR DRAMA LIP PENCILS | MY NEW ADDITIONS

If you caught my post on the first shades of the Maybelline Color Drama lip pencils that I tried here, then you will know that I fell in love with them!  So when I saw a few shades in Boots that I hadn't come across before, I picked them up straight away.  The lighter shade is called In With Coral, and as the name suggests it is a bright pastel coral pink colour which will be prefect come spring.  The other is Fab Orange and is a vibrant orange toned red, which I think suits me better than a blue tone red would.  

In With Coral is a really feminine shade, and I can see myself living in this for much of the year.  It looks great when paired with a soft pink blush and natural make up.  

Fab Orange is a bold red/orange and I love that this is one of only a few bright reds that doesn't bleed at all.  The pencil style of these products means you can create the perfect neat shape on your lips and when it's on it doesn't run at all.  This colour is ideal for nights out or when creating a classic glam look.  

The lipsticks have an amazing colour payoff, especially when you consider that they only cost £4.99 each - these are seriously good lip products that I would personally pick over some of their high end rivals.  I don't find them drying at all, even though they have a very matte finish and they last for hours without the need to touch up.  

Out of all the lipsticks I own, this range is the one I reach for the most and I cannot recommend them enough.  Have you tried the Maybelline Color Drama Lip Pencils? cc

CHARLOTTE TILBURY MATTE REVOLUTION LIPSTICK | 'WALK OF SHAME'

Since I've owned this beautiful lipstick for a couple or so weeks now, I thought the time was right to gush about it on here!  I picked up this Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick in the Selfridges January sale, where it was around £21 instead of £25 I think.  

The shade 'Walk of Shame' is a fairly dark berry toned red which I love, and the finish is a velvet matte which somehow makes my lips look fuller and plump.  The quality is excellent, which is obviously reflected in the price but I definitely think this was worth it, and would say that it is one of the best formulas I've ever tried.  

It lasts for quite a while once applied, but I'd say that it isn't the longest lasting lipstick I;ve ever tried - after food and drink it most definitely needed applying again!  However, I love the colour and finish of it, and would love to add another from the range to my collection! 

Have you tried any of the Matte Revolution lipsticks?  What do you think of them? xx

FOUR FAVOURITE NUDE LIPSTICKS

The nude lip trend is going nowhere anytime soon, and that is fine by me!  Nude shades are so wearable, and there are so many ones available now for all kinds of budgets and all types of skin tones.  As someone who is particularly pale, I used to avoid these shades because I thought they would make me look either more ghostly or like I had concealer on my lips!  Thankfully that is not the case, and today I've picked four of my favourites that are all different shades of nude but equally wearable.  

The first is a gloss, the Maxfactor Max Effect Gloss Cube in Nude Brown, and I go for this when I fancy a nude lip but want a glossy finish rather than a full on matte lipstick finish.  It is obviously quite a subtle nude, but the gloss is easy to apply and it lasts for quite a long time before I need to touch it up again.  

Next up is Topshop Saint, one of the first nude lipsticks I bought and have been loving ever since.  It is a creamy, pale peach colour that has a velvet matte finish that I've always thought is really similar to that of MAC lipsticks, for only £8.  This is also the nude that I go for when I have a slight (fake) tan, as it compliments the bronzed look well. 

A more recent favourite is the Maybelline Color Sensational lipstick in Tantalising Taupe, which has got to be my pick of the high street lipsticks.  Apart from the lovely, more expensive looking packaging, this lipstick is of a really hight quality - it lasts for ages, has excellent pigmentation and is a great shade for fair skin.  The entire Nude Sensation range is really worth a look, it has all types of nudes so there really is something to suit everyone - or you could just be like me and buy them all anyway! 

Last but certainly not least is my special favourite - Tom Ford Spanish Pink!  This has had it's own post on here already so I won't go into detail now, but it is a really lovely shade that feels every bit the luxury product that it is.  This really was a naughty treat for myself, but I have no regrets, and wear it all the time.  

What are your favourite nude lipsticks? Would love some more to add to my collection! xx

TOM FORD LIPSTICK | SPANISH PINK

So.  Whilst browsing online at all the January sales, I found myself on the Selfridges website and knew that I was in trouble.  The Tom Ford lipsticks were reduced to £33, and being a TF virgin I ignored the fact that £33 was still an eye watering amount and swiftly popped Spanish Rose into my basket - and here we are now.  I have no regrets whatsoever!  I picked the shade Spanish Rose because it is a soft peachy pink that I can wear any day which I know will go with pretty much everything - especially a smokey eye.  

It is a luxury purchase for sure, but it definitely earns its status as the quality is excellent.  The packaging is beautiful black and gold, which looks high end enough in itself, and looks great on my dressing table..!  It applies easily and feels light and moisturising too, with a velvety sheen finish.  It actually lasts quite a while too, which considering it's not matte is pretty impressive as it doesn't particularly feel like it is not going to budge, so that is a great bonus.  

I am so happy with this lipstick it has already made it into my all time favourites and I find myself reaching for it every day lately.  I'll definitely try and add another one to this, though maybe slowly so my bank balance doesn't suffer too much! 

Have you tried any Tom Ford lipsticks?  What do you think of them? xx

REVIEW | LORD & BERRY LIP AND EYE PENCILS

Hey :)  things I've learnt whilst writing up this post: must tan my face.  Could it BE any paler?!  I guess if anything positive comes from being this ghostly then it's that lip colours like the one I'm wearing seem to suit it.  

Today I'm talking about two new additions to my make up bag, in the form of Lord & Berry lip and eye pencils that came with my Love Me Beauty box this month.  To be honest, I thought that I had unsubscribed to those boxes, so it was a bit of a surprise when mr postman handed me the latest one a couple of days ago!  This month's box has been reviewed a lot already, I'm a bit late getting it and that's why a couple of the products I received were different to what I have seen other bloggers get.  I'm so happy it came though, there was a great little selection of products including three cute notebooks and a full size Nail Girls polish.  

The shades I got from Lord & Berry are #720 Sand waterproof eyeliner, and #6415 Blossom waterproof lip colour.  The eyeliner is brown and ideal for daytime looks as it is a lot more subtle than black, but it looks really good and makes my blue eyes stand out more without looking over the top.  The lip colour is my favourite out of the two, I was very sceptical about using it at first because I've found all over lip pencils to be very drying and hard to blend, but this one is the complete opposite.  It applies easily and the pencil is perfect for get a good neat shape, especially on your cupid's bow.  It is soft and blends out as a regular lipstick would, and it's not drying at all which is a massive plus!  The colour is very pigmented and I didn't have to keep going over it to get a good colour pay off (I hate that expression - soz).  The shade is a deepish berry pink/mauve shade which I admittedly wouldn't usually have gone for but I was very surprised at how much I like it on me, I think it's the sort of colour that would suit most skin tones.  

These products usually retail for £10 which I think is a fair price for a couple of good bits of make up.  I love the lip pencil the most, but the eye liner is also impressive and makes a lovely change from  my usual harsh black liner.

Have you tried any products by Lord & Berry?  What do you think of them? xx

SUMMER LIPS / SORTED

l-r: Revlon Colourburst Lip Butter in Sorbet; Topshop Lipstick in Macaroon; L'Oreal L'Extraudinaire Liquid Lipstick in Nude Ballet; Barry M Gelly Lips in Capella; MAC Impassioned; Revlon Colourburst Matte Balm in Unapologetic; Topshop Lipstick in Ooh La La.

Hey!  Happy Friday!  I know everyone says this at the beginning of each new month, but I really cannot believe how quickly this year is going.  It's kind of scary; in some ways I want it to hurry up because of things that I'm looking forward to, but I definitely don't want time to just fly by!  

Today I thought I would post about my top picks for summer lips.  I have featured a number of the pictured lip products before, so I won't get into a full blown review of them all.  My favourite shades are all orange and pink hues, since getting into blogging I have experimented so much more with colour and the colours I wear now are a far cry from the old days where I thought it was red or nothing!  Blue toned reds don't suit me at all, so I stay clear of them now and opt for more pink colours.  

I threw in a nude, the L'Oreal L'Extraudinare in Nude Ballet, because sometimes a natural shade is just as feminine and summery as a bright one.  I will do a full review of this recent buy, but so far so good!  It's different to the others out there at the moment, and the staying power is pretty impressive too.  

What shades will you be reaching for this summer? xx

MAC | Creme Cup

I think what I’m about to say may make me a bad blogger but…I don’t own many MAC lipsticks!  I think that in general paying £10 + for a lip product is a bit silly, as they all come off at some point and sometimes you just pay for the nice packaging etc.  However, having a little Christmas money left over can do funny things to a person, and at the weekend I found myself shopping in Westfield and passing by the MAC shop.  I was tempted to try their Face and Body foundation, but decided on lip stick that I could wear every day at work etc.  Creme Cup is a nude, dusky pink shade that gives the effect of my-lips-but-better.  The pigment I have to admit is fantastic, although I still stand by my belief that Topshop lipsticks are identical to MAC in their pigmentation and finish, just as good in my opinion!  The formula is nicely moisturising and the finish is sheer and velvety.  I definitely don’t have anything bad to say about it, apart from the price which makes me think that MAC lippies will remain an occasional treat for myself!  I do think that there are some make up products worth spending the extra money on; for me these things are skin care and foundation, so while I really do like this shade I don’t think I will be ditching drugstore lipsticks just yet. 

Do you love MAC lip products?  Have you tried this shade? xx

Sarah x

Benefit Freebie With This Month’s Elle

Hey :)  I thought that I would do a little post today on a nice freebie that I discovered a few days ago…free Benefit lipgloss with this month’s Elle magazine.  There are three to choose from (or three to buy if you feel like you need all of them): Dandelion, Coralista and Hoola, all of which have rather well known blush counterparts (Coralista is one of my all time favourites).  I picked up a copy which had Dandelion on it, as it’s a new shade to me and it looked like a good peachy shade.  It seems I made the right choice, the shade is a lovely dewy peach colour that is perfect for daytime/work wear and more importantly, the product itself isn’t sticky!  So that means no annoying hair-stuck-to-mouth moments on a windy day, which can only be a good thing.  The colour is quite subtle and gives a nice medium shine that isn’t too full on. If you feel like giving one of the shades a try, Elle magazine retails at £4 which works out pretty damn good considering you are getting a good sized Benefit product with it. 

Have you picked up Elle this month? xx