My MAC Lipstick Collection

 [L-R: Creme D'Nude//Angel//Snob//Pink Nouveau//Vegas Volt//Impassioned//Lady Danger//Girl bout Town//Russian Red//New York Apple//Rebel//Diva]

MAC lipstick collection posts are one of my favourites to read, I love seeing swatches and what shades everyone else has to help me decided which ones I want to pick up next. MAC lipsticks are definitely my favourite, they're such good quality and the colour range is amazing. Also, at £14 (when I bought my first ever one it was only £10, sigh) they're not completely unreasonable. Now that I've built up my collection I decided to do one myself. I've got 12 in total now, probably not as much as some Beauty Bloggers but I can see this number getting considerably larger because there's so many shades I still want (Shy Girl, Costa Chic, Ruby Woo etc). Here are the 12 shades I own so far...

Creme D'Nude: As you can tell by the name, this is a nude lipstick with a cremesheen finish. The MAC website describes it as a 'pale muted peach beige' which is pretty much spot on. I love wearing this when I've got super black smoky eyes on a night out to keep the rest of my face looking simple. One thing I'd say is that you have to be careful with this particular colour or it could look like you're wearing concealer on your lips - not a good look! I'm wearing it in this post here.

Angel: This is 100% my favourite nude MAC lipstick, I've been wearing this since I was about 16 and have kept repurchasing it. It's a pale, soft pink with a frost finish and apparently a favourite of Miss Kim K. Definitely a staple nude in my collection, see it in action here.

Snob: This is described as a 'light neutral pink' on the MAC website. I'd say its a light pink/purple, sort of a muted version of Saint Germain? It has a Satin finish and I love this for day time to add a subtle pop of colour to my makeup.

Pink Nouveau: This was in my March favourites post and I think it's just the perfect medium pink lipstick. It's a bright pink with blue undertones that makes me feel really girly every time I wear it. It has a satin finish and I love wearing it with a gloss over it for a night out.

Vegas Volt: At the moment this is my favourite Spring lipstick which might make an appearance in my April favourites. Described as a 'full power Coral' it has an amplified finish which means the colour pay-off is amazing. This is definitely one for Spring/Summer girls.

Impassioned: I remember when I first bought this lipstick I was obsessed with it. I wore it almost every day but it kind of got neglected over the Autumn/Winter months. An 'amped up Fuchsia' with an amplified finish, which is absolutely gorgeous for the warmer months. I can't wait to start wearing this again!

Lady Danger: 100% my favourite MAC lipstick, Lady Danger is a gorgeous orange/red with a matte finish. I know a lot of people are unsure about matte lipsticks but when it comes to MAC finishes, I'd say matte is my favourite (controversial?). This is one of the lipsticks from my collection that I wear the most and if I'm not sure how to do my makeup or want to get dressed up, I go straight for this shade. I think everyone should own Lady Danger.

Girl About Town:  GAT is a bright blue Fuchsia pink with an amplified finish. A staple dark, girly pink that can finish off your makeup look for a special occasion. I think this is a colour that looks amazing on everyone but I've not worn it in a while. Doing this post has definitely reminded me of some of the gorgeous lipsticks I have in my collection.

Russian Red: Russian Red is my favourite blue toned red lipstick. It also has a matte finish which is why I think it's my favourite. It's such a classy colour and I always feel amazing when I wear it. I really want to try Ruby Woo which is slightly lighter but also has a matte finish. Does anyone own both and can tell me the difference? I wore this in this post here.

New York Apple: This is a 'muted red with pink shimmer' and has a frost finish. My sister brought me this back from her holiday last year and it's one I'd never usually pick up myself but I really love it. If you want a red lip but don't want to go too bold then this is perfect, I even wear this during the day.

Rebel: This was one of the first MAC lipsticks I bought when I decided to be more adventurous with my lipstick choices. It's a lovely pinkish-purple with a satin finish and I've worn it quite a lot since I got it. Again, I'll probably put this to the back of my collection and bring it back out again in the Autumn. I did a post on it here if you'd like to see it on.

Diva: I LOVE this lipstick and surprise, surprise it also has a matte finish. MAC describes is as an 'intense reddish-burgundy' and I had been looking for a colour like this for ages before I purchased it. During the Winter I wore this to death, it was the perfect statement lip for the festive season - see it in action here.

So that's my current MAC lipstick collection and I think I've got quite a wide range of colours. If you've done one of these posts please link it to me in the comments so I can add even more to my list! Hope you enjoyed this post and had a great weekend.

American Apparel Nail Lacquer: Neon Yellow

Yellow is my all time favourite colour and right now I'll pretty much buy anything that's yellow and/or neon. I've got my blazer, H&M jumper and have just bought a skater skirt from Missguided, the only thing missing was a nail polish. I was reading Zoe's blog the other day and my eyes lit up when I came across this amazing AA nail polish - exactly the colour I was looking for! Yesterday while I was in town I popped in to American Apparel to pick one up.

This is my first AA nail polish even though I've had my eye on them for quite a while. I could have went crazy, there were so many colours that I wanted but I was sensible and just stuck to this one. A tip I read on Zoe's blog was to put a base coat on to make the colour really pop, so I went for Rimmel Lemon drop which is a really pale, almost white yellow. Once that dried, I put on two coats of the Neon Yellow which dried matte so I used a top coat to give it a glossy finish.

I'm really impressed with how bright this is, I've found that with a lot of neon polishes the quality isn't great. This is now a new favourite for Spring/Summer and a subtle way to work this seasons Neon trend. I know neon's not for everyone but I personally love it. AA nail polishes cost £7 and I'll definitely be buying more!

Have you tried any of the American Apparel nail lacquers?

Kevyn Aucoin: The Precision Brow Pencil

So this is my second Kevyn Aucoin post as I promised, this time on the Precision Brow Pencil that I also picked up on my Space NK trip. I usually use Benefit Brow Zings on my eyebrows but I wanted something a little lighter for Spring/Summer so when I seen Lisa Eldridge using this on her YouTube channel I wanted to try it. Also, the girl in Space NK said that it was meant to be really good and was really popular so I thought why not give it a go.

The Precision brow pencil comes in two colours (that I know of) Ash Blonde and Brunette, I went for the Brunette as I've got quite dark brows. It's made with the thinnest lead available which means you can fill in, shape and define your brows with accuracy. I apply it with short, thin strokes for a natural look and then brush my brows through with the handy spooly brush that comes on the end. I love that it has a spooly attached as I'm always loosing mine and always like to brush my brows before and after I apply product. My brows are already really dark, so I just use this to define them and shape them a bit. I also love that it comes in a retractable tube which means there's no need to sharpen it and you can twist it back in once your finished so it doesn't break. Again, I'm impressed with the super slim packaging, it doesn't just look like a boring brow pencil.

Since I bought this, I've used it every day. For during the day I prefer this to my Brow Zings as it gives my brows a more natural look but I'll still be using my beloved Brow Zings for nights out and in the winter again. I usually always prefer a powder for my brows but this pencil is different to any I've ever tried before and I'm really impressed with it. It costs £19 (little bit expensive for a brow pencil), but since I was lusting after the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor which costs £32 I didn't feel so bad buying this one. Like I said before, I'm really loving the Kevyn Aucoin products!

What's your favourite brow product, have you ever tried this one?

Kevyn Aucoin Creamy Glow Blush - Euphoria

The other day on my lunch break I took a sneaky trip to Space NK for a little browse. As you know, you can't just go into that shop 'for a browse' and I ended up leaving with two Kevyn Aucoin products, the precision brow pencil (will be doing a review on that shortly, I love it) and one of the creamy glow blush's. I'm new to the Kevyn Aucoin product and so far I'm really impressed, after reading Corrie's blog I need both the Sculpting and Celestial powder next!

It was so hard to choose a shade, every single one of them was gorgeous but since I've got quite a lot of pink blushers I decided to go for a peachy/neutral. It was between Euphoria and Tansoleil (slightly brighter and lighter) but I decided on Euphoria as I've been looking for a kind of neutral one for a while. I've always been a powder blush kinda girl but since using this I've been converted, It's so soft and creamy and easy to blend. I apply it with my fingers on to my cheeks then blend it with my Real Techniques buffing brush for a natural finish. The thing I love about this blush is that it's really pigmented so you can use the tiniest amount for a natural glow or build it up to make it more intense.

I wore this blush to work for a full shift and it didn't budge or fade at all. The staying power is really good which I wasn't expecting from a cream product. I also love the little pot that it comes in, I definitely prefer simple packaging it's so much more luxurious. I love this colour for Spring but I can definitely see me wearing it all year round, it's such a neutral colour.

Overall, I'm so impressed with this little product and the gorgeous glow it gives me. The creamy glow blush's cost £19 and you can buy them online or in store from Space NK. I can't wait to get my hands on more of the Kevyn Aucoin products, if the two I've already purchased are anything to go by I know I'll love the rest!

Have you tried any of the Kevyn Aucoin products?

Chanel Poudre Universelle Libre

Poudre Universelle Libre, a natural finish loose powder from Chanel has been a staple in my makeup collection for about 3 years now. I mentioned it in a few of my earlier posts when I first started blogging but I've never done a full review on it and thought it was about time I did.

Ever since I started my Makeup Artistry course way back when I was 16, I've always loved using a loose powder to set my makeup. I used to use either the Rimmel one or one from Collection, but when I went to Uni I decided to treat myself to a high end loose powder because I felt like it was something worth investing in. However, for the past 6 months or so I've been neglecting my poor Chanel powder and been using pressed powders instead (Rimmel Stay Matte & MAC Blotting Powder), but I've just rediscovered my love for it in the last week.

Chanel loose powder has a sheer, matte finish and leaves the skin looking natural. I love how fine the powder is, you can barely feel it on your skin and it doesn't look cakey at all even after touch ups during the day. You also get a little powder puff with it (mine was far too dirty to show you) but I prefer using a powder brush to apply it. According to the website, it comes in a lot more shades now but the shade I use is "30 Natural Translucent 2" which is perfect for me. I have a slightly oily t-zone so that's the area I apply this to and only need to touch up once during the day - amazing!

When I first bought this powder I'm sure it was only £32, but it's went up to £34 since then. I know that sounds like a lot of money but in 3 years, this is only my second one so it's definitely worth the price considering I have to buy a new Stay Matte powder every few months. Also you get 30g of product, whereas my pressed powders are only 12/14g. The price doesn't sound so steep now, does it?

This is definitely still my favourite powder of all time. What's your thoughts on the Chanel loose powder? Have you ever tried it?

P.S Thank you Becky for my new blog design, I love it!

Little Nails by Lizee Barry

                                       
For years now I've been a really big fan of false nails, whether it be stick on, gel or acrylics because I have a really disgusting habit of biting my nails (I know, its gross). I've tried for years to stop but I just can't so I rely on falsies a lot of the time.

The nails I'm wearing above are from Little Nails* which are hand painted by the lovely Lizee from Vanity Frills. Lizee has an Etsy shop where she sells her false nail sets with gorgeous painted designs on them (what a steady hand!!). There are lots of different designs such as polka dots, Cath Kidston inspired and camouflage prints. They come in lots of different colours too and I absolutely love the pink and purple ones that I received! The nails come in a set of 12 with 6 different sizes (2 spare) and come with a little tube of glue. Lizee recommends using Nailene glue for best results and for your nails to last longer, however I have no idea where mine is so I just used the glue that came with it and it worked just fine.

I absolutely love these nails, I'm terrible at nail art so they solve all my problems. Little nails cost £6 which is amazing considering the price you pay for sets from drugstores or even a manicure at a salon. So if like me you love nail art and false nails these are definitely for you. The only thing is next time I order another gorgeous pair I'd have to get two packets because my nails are abnormally small and some of them were too big for me (so I could only do one hand). Every time I go to get my nails done they comment on how tiny my nails are and how hard it is from them to paint them or put acrylics on (thanks btw). So don't worry, I don't think any one else will have that problem and one packet would do just fine!

Check out Lizee's Etsy shop here and you can also follow her on twitter @lizeebarry. What do you think of Little Nails?

P.S I need the Cath Kidston print ones next!

My Hair: New Hairstyle & Products I Use

I've had the same hairstyle for years - blonde and pretty much all one length, so when it was time to go to the hairdressers again (well overdue) I decided I wanted something a bit different. I ended up getting it a little bit darker and got some low lights put through it to give me a nice caramel colour. I also got some layers cut in and a little middle parting fringe which I love.

Getting a new hairstyle inspired me to write a little post on the products I use in my hair so I hope you enjoy reading it. At the moment I'm using Aussie Aussome Volume shampoo and conditioner which I've used a couple of times before. I have quite fine, limp hair and I'm forever trying to get some volume in it and this shampoo does the trick. I love Aussie products, especially the smell of them and once a week I use the 3 Minute Miracle Luscious Long treatment to keep my hair in top condition. I like to keep my hair long so I try to look after it so I can get as little as possible cut off it each time.

For styling, my two favourite products at the moment are from the VO5 Plump It Up range. Before I dry my hair I put in the weightless mousse which also has heat defence in it. After I blow dry my hair I put in the Dry Backcomb Spray (mentioned in my March favourites) to give my hair some volume then either straighten or curl the ends. Right now I like my hair to have a bit of bounce in it so I usually curl the ends with my straighteners.

To finish off my hair I use Elnett Satin hairspray which is my favourite, it doesn't weigh my hair down at all and brushes out easily and then I apply some of the Aldi Miracle Oil (£4 dupe for Moroccan Oil) to the ends to smooth them. Sometimes I use the Miracle Oil before I blow dry if my hairs feeling a bit dry and needs some conditioning. Then every second (ok and third) day I'll use my Batiste dry shampoo to freshen up my hair between washes. This is a must have product and if I run out I need to go straight out and buy another bottle. Right now I'm loving the lace one, it smells amazing but I also like the Tropical one for summer.

I hope you enjoyed this little hair care post and I'm so happy with my new hairstyle!

L'Oreal Nude Magique CC Cream - Anti-Redness

I've never really found an anti-redness primer or product that works for me, it always leaves my skin with that green tinge that just does not cover well with foundation. However, when I was in Boots the other day the new L'Oreal CC creams caught my eye and I noticed there was an anti-redness one and decided there would be no harm in trying it out.

The L'Oreal CC creams are 3 different colour correcting creams: anti-redness, anti-fatigue and anti-dullness. They help neutralise the appearance of redness, dullness and tired looking skin with their smart pigment capsules that transform into a lightweight foundation. A 5 in 1 perfecting cream that promises: flawless coverage, perfectly even skin texture, fresh dewy glow, 24 hour hydration and SPF 12. 

The anti-redness cream comes out as a green emulsion and transforms into a light foundation when blended into the skin (photos above). The cream works with the pigment in your skin and blends to the right shade for you so it doesn't matter if I'm wearing tan or not, it matches my skin tone either way (If you have really pale skin though I'm not sure I'd recommend it as it's quite yellow toned and might make you look a bit orange!). The coverage is light but buildable, in the photos above I only have on one layer and its taken away the redness and left my skin with a dewy glow. In the summer when its a bit warmer I think this would be fine for me to wear on it's own with a bit of concealer as it does even out my skin tone. Right now though I'm just using it as a base and because it's so light, it doesn't look cakey with my foundation layered over it. 

I've never tried any other CC creams to compare this to but overall I'm really happy with this product. It definitely neutralises my redness and as someone who swears by full coverage foundation, I think I might even be able to leave the house with just this on! The L'Oreal CC creams cost £9.99 and you can pick them up from Boots or Superdrug. Have you tried any of the L'Oreal CC creams and if you have what did you think of them?

Getting My Faux Glow Back

Throughout the Winter I kind of neglected my fake tan unless I was going on a night out, but now it's Spring time I decided I need to up my game and get my glow back. I was looking back at photos from my holiday in Ibiza last summer and I was SO tanned it upset me at how pale I am right now so here are some of the fake tans that I rely on...

• The Instant Tan: My favourite instant tan has to be Soap and Glory Glow Getter. This is just an instant tan, sort of a body makeup that I like to put on my legs if I'm wearing a dress or skirt on a night out. I discovered this tan about a year ago and have used it ever since. I like using this when I've already got a bit of tan on so it gives me a gorgeous airbrushed look. I actually did a post of this way back when I first started my blog, (cringe) If you'd like to read it (don't laugh) you can here.

• The Gradual Tan: I used this gradual tan a few years ago but when the lovely Christine who I work with mentioned it again I decided to pick one up. I went for the deep one as I'm not that pale to begin with and I do love a dark tan. I apply this when I get out the shower and it has a lovely apricot smell that reminds me of summer. I've only used this twice and I already have a gorgeous, sun-kissed glow. I also love that its a two in one - moisturiser and tan (since you know I always neglect my body moisturising) and it's under a fiver! This is definitely a tan I'll continue to use every day during the Spring and Summer months. 

• The Weekly Tan: If I've got a night out or special occasion planned I like my tan to be that little bit darker. I usually use St Moritz which is a really cheap tan that gives me an amazing colour but right now I'm loving Sienna X Dark Glowing Self Tan. I love the colour this tan give me, a deep golden brown colour and not orange at all. I apply this with my tanning mitt before I go to bed because you need to have it on for 8 hours before you wash off the guide tan. It lasts about 5 days which is really good and doesn't come off patchy if I exfoliate every couple of days. It also has a lovely scent which is always a bonus - none of that biscuit fake tan smell! 

I've also decided I'm going to buy the Clarins Liquid Bronze facial tanner when I get paid on Friday and will definitely be doing a review on that once I've tried it out. What are some of your favourite fake tans?

OOTD: The Yellow Blazer

Top: eBay

Skirt: H&M

Blazer: Forever 21

Bag: Zara

Shoes: New Look
Necklace: H&M

Sunglasses: New Look

I'm so excited that I've got the full weekend off (which barely happens) and to make it even better the sun has made an appearance. As soon as I saw that the sun was out I was in the back garden taking blog photos, the sun just makes the photos look so much better doesn't it? After my last outfit post I promised myself that I would start doing more instead of just focusing on beauty because I do love fashion just as much as makeup.

Right now my favourite thing in my wardrobe is my yellow blazer. I've wanted one since last summer and finally found one I love from Forever 21 (I wanted last years Zara one SO much). I decided to pair it with my faux Celine top which I searched everywhere for and a little skater skirt from H&M. Also one of my favourite necklaces at the moment is this gold chain which is also from H&M, I've been wearing it with everything. Not to forget my beloved Zara Office City bag that I use almost everyday, I love how expensive it looks. After seeing the tan version on Kayleigh's blog I want that in my life too! Unfortunately, a tan bag is the last thing I need (I still love you Bayswater). 

What's your favourite thing in your wardrobe at the moment? 

The Perspex Clutch

Perspex is a huge trend for SS13 and I noticed that lots of lovely ladies were carrying perspex clutch bags at London Fashion Week. This little beauty is actually a cosmetics bag from H&M (where I work) but when I saw the lovely Gemma (who has amazing style) using it as a clutch bag I thought it was such a good idea! At £6.99 (I got it for about £5), I had to have it as a lot of the see through clutch bags are quite expensive. I love that it incorporates another one of this seasons trends too - neon. It also comes in neon pink and is such an affordable way to work this Spring/Summer trend. What do you think of the perspex trend?

March Favourites

• Soap & Glory The Breakfast Scrub - I love all of the Soap & Glory products, but my favourite is 100% this one (closely followed by the Glow Getter tan), a body scrub that consists of little beads that give you silky smooth skin. It contains oat, Shea butter and sugar along with other lovely ingredients like almond and honey which makes it a must have skin care product for me. I use this a couple of times a week to buff off my tan and exfoliate my skin ready for another layer, it also has an amazing maple scent (smells good enough to eat). This is one product I always repurchase and if you haven't tried it I definitely recommend that you do.

• Garnier Ultimate Beauty Oil - I did a review on this body oil at the start of March and have still been using it (almost) everyday. It's extra moisturising and has a lovely subtle scent, not to mention its so much more convenient than a lotion if you're lazy like me. If you want to read my full review on it you can here.

• VO5 Plump It Up Dry Backcomb Spray - I'm forever trying to get volume in my flat, limp hair and have tried loads of products that just don't seem to work. A couple of months ago I bought some products from the VO5 Plump It Up range and this one stood out to me the most. After using my Aussie Aussome Volume shampoo and conditioner and my Plump It Up mousse, I spray this onto my roots and backcomb my hair slightly to give it some extra volume. I've seen some negative reviews on this but it works fine for me, it's by no means a miracle product but it does give my hair a little more volume and texture than usual and I use it every day. 

• MAC Pink Nouveau - So far I have 12 MAC lipsticks in my collection and the one I've been reaching for the most this month is Pink Nouveau. It's a lovely medium pink with blue undertones and has a satin finish. It's not too bright so it's perfect for everyday wear and I've been loving pairing it with my Revlon ColorBurst lipgloss in Pink Ice. 

• Barry M Gelly Nail Paint Lychee - I'm a massive fan of nude nail polish and even dedicated a whole post to them here. Now I have a new favourite to add to my collection - Barry M Lychee. I already have a couple of the Gelly polishes, I love the finish of them and they are one of my favourites (Essie is still in the lead though). Lychee is a gorgeous Spring nude, a really pale creamy coffee colour and I've been wearing it constantly on my nails this month. I'll definitely buy it again when this one runs out - and it will!

• L'Oreal Super Liner - Another product I've been wearing every day is this pen liner. I posted about this in February and have been using it almost every day since then. It's so easy to use and the thin tip makes appplication super quick, especially when I'm running about for work in the morning. For now this has even replaced my beloved Maybelline gel liner but maybe I'll rekindle my love for it this month.

Have you tried any of these products? What are your March Favourites?