Beauty | Weekly Roundup

Another week has flown by and it's really starting to feel like autumn outside! I'm sitting here with my slippers on, cup of tea in hand and a bottle of Olbas Oil at my side because, alas, I've gone and caught a cold. That hasn't stopped me from getting outside and enjoying the colder weather though! This morning Chris and I had a hearty full English breakfast at O'Neils followed by a brisk walk through the park on the way home, where we spotted some deer and snapped a few pictures of the autumn leaves. I love how crisp the air feels! 

This week I've been focusing on cultivating a good base for the colder months, testing out primers and reaching for skin brightening highlighters. Rimmel Fix & Perfect Pro Primer (£6.99) has been my go-to, with its creamy and not at all plastic-y texture being suited perfectly to the colder weather. It definitely helps anchor foundation and concealer, although it doesn't quite have the staying power of my trusty Revlon primer. Keep your peepers peeled for my primer comparison post, coming soon! Seventeen Skin Wow! 3 Way Highlighter (£5.99) (review here) has been my brightening tool of choice this week. I dab a little highlighter fluid across my cheek bones and brow bones before blending gently with my fingers, and the lovely white-silver tone picks up the light beautifully. The frosty finish reminds me of Christmas, which really isn't that far away now! Beauty Christmas lists at the ready!

Due to my cold I haven't been sleeping much at night, so an industrial strength concealer has been top of my makeup requirements! Another beauty bargain, I've been seriously impressed with Seventeen Phwoarr Paint Heavy Duty Under Eye Concealer (£5.49) which has the same thick yet blendable texture as Benefit Boi-ing concealer, my all-time favourite for covering dark circles. Phwoarr Paint is a truly brilliant dupe and I'd even go so far as to say I prefer it to Benefit overall due to the purse friendly price! It also works wonders at covering spots and blemishes and the formula doesn't melt or slide, which is more than can be said for my MAC Studio Finish Concealer, unfortunately. I'm really intrigued by Seventeen's other recent primer and concealer releases, as I bet they're just as impressive. 

I've been favouring a quick and easy neutral eye, reaching for Topshop 'Sable' Kohl Pencil (£4) and Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express Mascara (£7.99). The texture of Topshop's liner is extremely soft and so easy to blend, and it's a beautiful rich dark brown shade which I tend to prefer to lighter, redder browns. It's great for adding definition when smudged with my ELF blending brush, or with a cotton brush if I'm at Chris's without all of my tools! I picked up Maybelline's the Rocket on a bit of a whim as I've been trying to find my perfect mascara, and after my bridal hair & makeup trial last Saturday I've realised I've been applying mascara incorrectly for a long, long time! No wonder I've always been so fussy! I apply this one looking down, as in not looking in the mirror at all, which sounds slightly dangerous but the results are so much better! I no longer suffer from transfer on my eyelids, and Maybelline the Rocket gives incredible volume with intense black colour. I'm hooked! I've also invested in a pair of Superdrug Eyelash Curlers (£1.99) which are brilliant at opening up eyes and adding some shape to lashes before sweeping on mascara. 

As for lips, I've been crushing hard on the new Rimmel Colour Rush Balm (£5.99) range. Pictured is 'Keep Mauving', a gorgeous autumnal deep berry shade that I can't get enough of. I've used this every day since purchasing and I can't recommend it enough, from the gorgeous berry colour to the sweet vanilla scent and truly long lasting colour and shine. My lips feel moisturised and soft, essential when battling a cold! Alongside the Soap & Glory Gloss Stick range these are my favourite lip crayons. I also picked up a brighter red shade which I'll be reviewing soon. Just gorgeous!

In terms of skincare I've been working hard at balancing my crazy skin's needs, what with the sudden drop in temperature and turning on of central heating. Face wise, I've been using La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo (£13) after reading rave reviews, and it really does seem to be helping calm blemishes without drying my skin. In the mornings I use this before applying primer, skipping moisturiser as I find it moisturising enough by itself. It gives a comfortable matte finish, a perfect base for makeup. In the evenings I let it sink in before applying a light layer of moisturiser for added hydration. While I wouldn't call it a miracle cure, Effaclar Duo is working well at maintaining balance and soothing inflammation, especially around my troublesome chin area. 

Body wise, autumn and winter inevitably see me reaching for Jergen's Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Body Moisturiser (£5.99), which my Mum discovered on a trip to Michigan a few years ago. She came home with a huge bottle shortly before the launch of Jergens lotions in the UK, and when we saw that their Ultra Healing lotion was on sale here we stocked up! This handy little travel size tube actually came free with a magazine many months ago but I've got a big bottle with a pump dispenser in the bathroom, ready to be slathered on post-bath. Lightly scented with a balm like texture and fast drying formula, this lotion is the ultimate in winter comfort as it gives long lasting moisturisation and isn't at all sticky or tacky, which is essential when pulling on tights or skinny jeans! 

I hope you've had a wonderful week and are having an enjoyable, relaxing Sunday. Which products have you been reaching for over the past seven days or so? I'd love to hear your recommendations!

Baci e abbracci, 

         

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Autumn lips

I know what you're thinking. Where the hell is the picture of the lipsticks?! Gah! Well, having to take all my photos with an IPhone 5 means I'm constantly struggling to find good enough lighting and I cannot for the life of me get a clear, crisp image of the lipsticks themselves lined neatly in the row I carefully positioned them in *shakes fist at the iphone gods* If I do happen to take a blog worthy picture this arvo i'll be sure to pop it on the blog asap!

It's September! Autumn is finally on its way and I for one am welcoming it with open arms! I love everything about Autumn and Winter, from the colder weather, candlelit evenings and numerous opportunities for celebrating (my birthday, Halloween, Bonfire Night, Yule, Christmas, New Year) to the snug jim jams and warm winter coats. I'm an Autumn gal through and through and am actually very happy to wave goodbye to summer, as lovely as it was! 

My love for all things Autumnal extends to makeup and beauty, of course, and yesterday I had a rummage through my makeup collection and gathered together my favourite Autumnal lip products. Reds, berries and grapes... I can't resist a strong lip during the colder months! Here are my faves, left to right.

1 ~ Bourjois Rouge Edition 04 Rose Tweed (£7.99)

This is my current favourite nude, as it's not too brown nor too pink and it has a depth to it that other nudes sometimes lack. The formula is super creamy and comfortable on the lips, and the lasting power is pretty good too at around three-four hours minus eating/drinking. The only slight bug bear I have is the shape of the lipstick bullet, as it's quite large and 'flat' on one side, making it difficult to apply neatly to my small-ish lips! I tend to turn it upside down and use the underside to line my lips before slicking it on that way, which works really well. 

2 ~ Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate 05 (£5.49)

I really like Kate's capsule collection, although the scent of these lippies is really, REALLY strong. Sort of a sweet herbal smell, I find it a little overwhelming but don't notice it too much once applied, thankfully. 05 is a gorgeous light berry colour with pink tones and it makes a brilliant transitional shade as the weather starts to get colder. Easy to apply and long lasting, I've been reaching for this throughout the summer and know I'll continue to do so as an everyday lipstick now it's September. 

3 ~ Revlon Lip Butter Berry Smoothie (£7.99)

I'm a bit of a Lip Butter fanatic, it has to be said. I love the smooth texture and glossy finish of Berry Smoothie and the slight silver toned shimmer running throughout. This instantly brightens up my face and completes my look, and it works for both daytime and nighttime. As you can see, this bullet has been well used! A firm favourite. 

4 ~ Soap & Glory Lipstick Man Trap (£9)

I find shopping for red lipstick quite tricky as I'm very pale and some shades can look really stark and strange on me! But this little beauty is a wearable muted red with slight yellow undertones that looks very polished and neat when applied. It smells exactly like MAC lipstick. As in, EXACTLY the same, which is brilliant as I love MAC's sweet vanilla scent! The formula feels very high quality. Moisturising and not all drying, this is one I reach for as an evening lippie, although it would be perfectly suited to daytime as well. 

5 ~ MAC Matte Lipstick Russian Red (£15)

My holy grail red! This is hands down the greatest red I have ever used. It has blue undertones, meaning my teeth look instantly three shades whiter, and it really suits my pale skin tone. Even though it's quite a bright, daring shade it doesn't look at all overwhelming once on, and the matte finish ensures it looks classic and timeless. Plus, it doesn't budge once applied, which is what I always worry about when wearing a strong lip! I pair this with MAC lipliner in Brick and they're a great team. Russian Red is my partner in crime for various winter festivities; I predict it will be making a regular appearance over the next few months!

6 ~ Estee Lauder Pure Color 36 Cherry Fever (Shimmer) (£18 full size, not sure if this shade was limited edition)

I got this last Christmas as part of an amazing Estee Lauder Christmas gift set and it's a lovely berry with gold shimmer running throughout. Perfect for the festive season! Texture wise it's extremely moisturising and not too sticky (come on, all lipglosses are sort of sticky! But this one is a smooth sort of sticky rather than glue-y sticky!) It has a lovely fruity scent and gives a gorgeous wash of berry colour. 

7 ~ Soap & Glory Sexy Mother Pucker Gloss Stick 'Plum Jam' (£8)

Soap & Glory's Gloss Sticks are the best lip crayons on the market, in my humble opinion! They have a really glossy finish and feel so moisturising and comfortable, and the colour range is impressive. Plum Jam is my favourite for Autumn as it's a beautiful plum red gloss that's actually a little brighter than how it appears in the bullet. It smells so vanilla-y which I love and for a gloss it has really good lasting power. I put it through a burger and chips lunch yesterday and while it did fade it didn't disappear completely! This is another product that really helps brighten my complexion and sets off my pale skin perfectly. 

8 ~ Topshop Lips Beguiled (£8)

This is the only really dark, 'vampy' lipstick in my collection. Beguiled is a beautiful and very striking red wine colour. I'm a little shy with my makeup; it took me until last year to finally rock a strong red lip! So I've been quite cautious about wearing Beguiled, and yet when I do I always really like how intense it looks. I'm definitely going to make an effort to wear deeper shades like this throughout Autumn and Winter, and I've got my eye on MAC's Rebel as my next purchase! 

What are your favourite lip products for Autumn/Winter? Do you switch up your makeup depending on season or do you rock the same shades all year around? I'd love to hear what you think!

Baci e abbracci,

                                                        

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Review | Topshop Eyes Duo 'Harlow Sunset'

Topshop makeup is without a doubt one of my favourite brands at the moment. I purchased this little beauty a few months ago along with some other bits and bobs and thought I'd review it as it's definitely worthy of some attention.  Being a huge fan of Topshop makeup already, having purchased and fallen in love with some of their brilliant lipsticks in the past  (which you can read about here if you fancy lusting after some pretty pink colours!) I knew I'd be on to a good thing by branching out and trying their eyeshadow range, and I'm now officially head over heels. This little Topshop Eyes Duo baked eyeshadow comes in a range of shimmery shades, including a gorgeous neutral pairing. I decided to venture out and try something a little different though, and went for 'Harlow Sunset', an aubergine and beige gold combination. 

How pretty is the packaging? I like great packaging and design as it looks appealing in my make-up bag, although I try to avoid purchasing products based solely on looks! Luckily the quality of 'Harlow Sunset' is fantastic. The powder itself is buttery soft, making it a real pleasure to apply. Topshop describe it as having a 'velvet finish' and it definitely lives up to that claim. It blends easily and the pigmentation of both halves is strong. I use my fingertip or a large shadow brush to sweep the lighter shade all over the lid, followed by a smaller blending brush to apply the darker shade along my lash line and in the socket. 

The beige gold shade is flecked with a slight iridescent gleam that changes ever so slightly depending on lighting. It really is beautiful! The aubergine shadow is a wonderful dark purple colour with flecks of gold, although it's not as shimmery as it's partner, making it excellent for defining the eye. The two halves can be blended together easily and they're very flattering on my pale complexion and blue/green/grey eyes (my eyes seem to change colour often, bizarrely!) I've been using this duo as a change from my usual shimmery neutral eye look during the day, although it could also be used to create a more glamourous evening look. You could also try using the shadows with a slightly damp brush for an even more intense shot of colour.

Topshop Eyes baked duo shadows currently retail at £6 which I think is a great price for such a high quality product. The aubergine shade does suffer from a very slight fallout when applying, but as long as you dust some loose powder beneath your eyes before applying, you can whisk away any minor fallout with a tissue afterwards. Simple!

Are you a fan of Topshop makeup? Browse their collection here

                                                       

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Review | Coral and pink Topshop Lips

I'm a huge fan of Topshop make-up and I'm slowly building up quite a nice little collection of lip products in particular. My first lipstick buys were the beautiful light pink 'Innocent' and vampy red 'Beguiled', followed by one of the new Lip Bullets in bright red 'Joyride'. I've now moved on to the pinks and corals, and recently purchased 'Macaroon' and 'Boom Boom', which I'm reviewing today. 

Topshop Lips L-R: 'Macaroon' and 'Boom Boom', £8 each

Macaroon (top), Boom Boom (bottom)

I'm so impressed with the range of shades available in the Topshop Lips collection. Rather than sticking to your average drugstore colours, Topshop aren't afraid to push the boat out and go for more daring, unique colours that are usually reserved for higher end brands. 'Macaroon' is a gorgeous pastel coral pink, verging more towards pink with yellow undertones (although it doesn't make my teeth look yellow, woohoo!) I want to say it's a 'fluffy pink' shade, even though that doesn't quite make sense, but if we're playing a game of word association then 'fluffy', 'cotton candy', 'powder', 'summer' and 'soft' all spring to mind! 'Boom Boom' is my favourite of the two, a vibrant bright pink with just the right amount of 'neon' to make it a truly versatile colour for everyday/evening wear. 'Glossy', 'girl power', 'strong' and 'carefree' spring to mind in word association round two!

Both lipsticks have a wonderfully creamy consistency and give a highly pigmented, opaque finish with just one swipe. Both colours appear on the lips as they do in the tube. 'Boom Boom' gives a slightly glossier finish than 'Macaroon', which appears a little more matte, yet still very creamy and therefore easy to apply. As they're quite strong colours it's essential to prep your lips beforehand to ensure any flakes are removed. I use my toothbrush with a dab of water to gently exfoliate, which seems to work a treat. 

Once on, I've found 'Macaroon' to have slightly longer lasting power, possibly due to the more matte finish it gives, and it leaves a lovely subtle stain of colour once the creaminess has worn off after two or three hours. 'Boom Boom' is the brighter of the two but as it's more glossy it's prone to fading faster. After an hour or two I'm good to reapply, especially if I've been eating or drinking, which doesn't really bother me too much to be honest as I really love the colour and it feels so moisturising and comfortable to apply!

Topshop Lips cost £8 each and there is a wide range of colours available to choose from, from nudes to pinks to reds to purples. The only downside is that although the packaging is quite unique and attractive, I've found the metal cases scratch rather easily while in my make-up bag, as you can see in the photos above. I suppose this might sort of add a sense of edginess to the product's appearance?! It's not a major issue, just a little bugbear. Other than that, I can't fault these and I'm really enjoying wearing them at the moment. My love for coral and pink is apparently never ending! 

Browse Topshop make-up here

Looking for a beautiful bright red? Topshop Lip Bullet 'Joyride'

Aah, the infamous 'Joyride' Lip Bullet that I thought was pink but is actually bright red... Either my eyesight needs testing or Topshop's lighting needs adjusting! Still, I'm glad I made a mistake as I really like this little gem and am excited to have stumbled across a red lipstick that actually suits me and doesn't make me look super pale/like I have cheddar cheese for teeth. 

It can be so tricky finding a good red lipstick. I used to dread it, to be honest, until I found MAC's Russian Red. That's my go-to red and nothing I've swatched since has ever come close.  However, 'Joyride' is a definite partner in crime to Russian Red, being a slightly lighter shade that's perfect for summer (I'm thinking denim shorts and white tank tops/floaty maxi dresses). 

Topshop Lip Bullet 'Joyride' £8

 'Joyride' swatch

Topshop provides the following information on their website: 'Dewy finish lip bullet with lipstick tip in twist up format for precise application. Apply for buildable and blendable vivid colour with a moisturising, nourished finish. Wear either on it's own or layered over lipstick for a comfortable, balmy wear.' 

As you can see it's a bright red tomato shade but not too orangey. I tend to suit reds with a blue undertone and this doesn't seem too yellow based, which is probably why it doesn't look as bizarre on me as some reds do! I am a huge fan of the lipstick tip design as the point is small enough to draw a smooth, even line around the lips before filling in with the small 'bullet'. It makes for really neat application and I haven't even needed to use a lipliner to get a reasonably crisp finish. 

The texture is creamy and comfortable, not at all drying and it doesn't bleed outside of the lip line. Once it's on it doesn't budge, although I always do the old 'thumb in mouth' trick to prevent any colour transferring onto my teeth! While Topshop say it can be worn over lipstick, I sort of don't see the point in this at all... It IS lipstick and it's so highly pigmented that I can't quite work out what you'd wear it over? It's absolutely brilliant as it is, as far as I'm concerned. It is moisturising but it definitely doesn't feel like a 'balm', it feels like a lipstick so I'm not sure about their choice of wording there either. But I love it- that's what counts! 

After around three or four hours, or after eating/drinking, the colour does start to fade a little in the middle of the lips so it's worth carrying it with you on days/nights out in case you feel the need to reapply. I sometimes dab on a little lipbalm when this happens, which disperses the remaining colour evenly. 

In the picture above I applied one coat, blotted with tissue, and then applied a second coat, without using lipliner. I really like the quality and colour and am keen to try out the other Lip Bullet shades, as from what I can tell they're all quite bright, solid shades. The pigmentation is brilliant, very opaque, and it feels high quality, so I'd say it's well worth the £8 price tag. 

Browse Topshop Lip Bullets here

Have you tried the Lip Bullets or any other Topshop make-up? I'd love to hear your thoughts. 

Weekend haul: Sinful Colors, got2b and Topshop make-up

As I had £16 worth of Boots points on my card I thought I'd treat myself to a few bits and bobs over the weekend. I'm currently ever-so-slightly obsessed with nail polish, so I picked up four pretty shades from the new Sinful Colors collection. An American company, Sinful Colors seem to specialise in fun, 'trendy' colours, with the collection featuring lots of neons, pastels and glitters. They retail for £1.99 each, which is pretty fab. Here are the four I picked up:

L-R: Island Coral, Cinderlla, Winterberry, Soul Mate

I really like the pale blue shimmer 'Cinderella' and the dark brown-aubergine Winterberry in particular. The other two look quite similar but Soul Mate is a more pinky coral as opposed to orange coral. 

I also picked up a few hair products. The new range of Schwarzkopf got2b styling products were on sale for £3 each, so I chose the beach matt mermaid look texturizing salt spray and the Oil-licious tame & shine styling oil. 

I love a good salt spray, especially for when my hair is feeling a little flat. I also love a good hair oil for everyday use, and this one is such a great bargain. I've used it a few times over the last couple of days on damp hair, and it really helps to smooth split ends and nourish my frazzled highlighted locks. It has quite a thick texture, which I prefer as it feels more satisfying somehow when applying to hair in need of nourishment. Plus it smells lovely, quite floral but with a nutty kick too. A little goes a long way on my fine hair, and it doesn't make my hair at all greasy or lank. A winner!

Now for the really fun part... My mini Topshop make-up haul! I've had a few things from Topshop's range in the past, including a couple of lipsticks and nail polishes. I found so many gorgeous items this time that I couldn't resist picking up a selection:

From left to right: Eye Duo in 'Harlow Sunset' (£8), Smokey Eye Palette in 'Golden Aura' (£12), Kohl liner in Sable (£4), Nails in 'Ruthless' and 'Nice n' Neutral' (£5 each), Lip Bullet in 'Joyride' (£8). 

I am completely head over heels in love with this Eye Palette. I'm a sucker for neutral colours and these feel so soft and buttery. I've been wanting to try a plum shade for a while, and the duo shadow looked too good to resist. I usually use my trusty Mac eyeliner for definition but thought I'd try this Topshop one, and I'm so glad I did as it goes on extremely smoothly and doesn't pull or drag at all, making it easy to draw thin or thick lines depending on preference. 

Now, I wasn't actually looking to buy a red lipstick. I'm not sure if the lighting in Topshop is  funny or if I was just having a bit of a moment, but I *thought* this was a pink colour! It looked like a dark pink and I couldn't find a tester so I just went with it and bought it... Only to open it at home and realise my mistake. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with red lipstick, as some make my pale complexion look even paler, and some make my teeth look quite yellow. The trick is finding a red with blue undertones, and Mac's Russian Red is all my absolute favourite: matte finish, doesn't budge, and compliments my skintone (and my teeth!). So it was with some trepidation that I applied a coat of this Lip Bullet. To my relief I instantly loved it! It's a tomato red but not at all orange, so my teeth looked fine, and it has a lovely matte texture, meaning it doesn't bleed or smudge outside of the lip line. It makes a change from my usual pinks, nudes and berries, and I'll definitely be wearing it throughout the summer. 

Finally, I couldn't help but add a few more items to my nail polish collection! I love a dark, wine red and I also love nude colours, so these really stood out for me. The brushes are quite small, which I prefer as it means I don't end up with polish all around my nails, which is what often  seems to happen with bigger brushes. 

I'll be writing reviews throughout the week, and can't wait to share some swatches of the Eye Palette and Lip Bullet in particular. 

Browse Sinful Colors here

Browse Schwarzkopf got2b here

Browse Topshop make-up here