Winter is my favourite time of the year. Snuggled on the sofa under a furry blanket, warming your hands on a hot mug of tea with candles as the only source of light...however, Summer allows us to experiment with colour & I love to wear natural, nude tone make up with a pop of colour by wearing a bold, out there lip product!
I think this trend is quickly catching on with the likes of Nicki Minaj & Rhianna developing bright, statement lipsticks for MAC.
Lipsticks can really change a persons mood, make an outfit more current or simply just a way to express your personality, tastes & just experiment.
Over the years, I have really started to drift away from the safe nude lips & venture into a whole new world of colorful lips & once our summer in the UK arrives, I cant wait to start rocking these lip colours :-)
Firstly is an MUA product which are cheap as chips! This lipstick will set you back a whole pound, yes, 100p! Its in shade 61, Nectar and it's a gorgeous sheen, orange, coral with a slight wet look. The colour pay off is good, although the longevity of the product is not the best so this is definitely one you would need to pop into your handbag to top up during the day.
The second is a Clinique Chubby Stick in Mega Melon. This is a sample size which is why it's so stumpy! The colour is a very muted berry colour, with a hint of brown & would look amazing on mature ladies who wanted a pop of colour but for it also to be subtle. This is so moisturising on the lips & tastes good too! It comes in a range of amazing colours, many of which are ideal for the spring/summer seasons.
The next is by my favourite lipstick brand, Barry M. This colour I think is one of there most popular due to it's likeness to MACS's Candy Yum Yum and has been branded it's best dupe and its the shade Shocking Pink. Read my review on on this lipstick using the following link: http://allthingsbeautyxxx.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/sleek-lipstick-shade-52-shocking-pink.html)
This is a matte lipstick but not drying on the lips & it doesn't flake either. The pigmentation is amazing & the staying power is also very good for a £4.99 lipstick. This would look amazing with a slick of BB cream, bronzer, a few strokes of mascara, worn with a summer dress...summer perfection!
Lastly is a nude shade for you who want to add something to the lip but nothing to dramatic. This shade is called Beige Trench. The lipstick has slight blue undertones so it's not going to make your lips look dead or concealed. Instead it's going to add a sheen of nude, lip colours just better! This is great as an everyday lipstick & can be made to look more dramatic by lining the lips with a corresponding lip pencil to add definition for a night out.
I think this is a good range as there's something for everyone!
Let me know your favourite summer lip products :-)
Hannah xxx
I thought I would do a haul as there are so many amazing products in drugstores at the moment. What was meant to be a mini haul soon turned into a BIG haul!!
I'm looking to do a high end haul soon so look out for that one on my blog!
Firstly, there were a few products which had caught my eye from Garnier. Since trying there new formula BB cream & being very impressed, I have been desperate to try more of their skincare/cosmetic range, so I picked up 3 products.
Firstly was the new '5 Second Perfect Blur Primer'. It costs £12.99 for 30ml of product but currently has £3.00 off (making it £9.99). It has a moose/foam texture so a little goes a long way. Its pink in colour & instantly evens out my skin tone. It also helps 'blur' the appearance of shine, wrinkles, fine lines & pores. This primer is amazing! Literally within 5 seconds my skin looks flawless. On good days I apply this, a touch of concealer where needed & I'm good to go which is ideal for lazy, on the go days where you don't want to wear foundation but want your skin to look polished. With it being oil free, its perfect for all skin types.
The second was another new product launched recently by Garnier, which is the 'Skin Naturals Moisture Match' range. All skin needs moisturising, whatever the skin type. Garnier have consequently created 5 moisturisers to complement your skin type. I have the green one 'Shine be Gone' which is a mattifying light cream. These retail at £5.99 for 50ml and are also currently on offer as selected Garnier products are buy 1 get one free. Like the '5 Second Perfect Blur Primer', it has a whipped texture & is cooling on the skin without having a drying effect. It's not greasy on the skin and is absorbed almost instantly and claims to mattify all day. I am not convinced it does, but the length of time I need my skin mattified for, this product works perfectly! The Green Tea extract it has protects the skin too which is always a bonus!
The other 4 in the range are:
- Goodbye Dry for dry skin to very dry skin
- Start Afresh for normal to dry skin
- Wake Me Up for dull skin (oil free)
- Protect & Glow for normal skin (oil free)
Lastly from Garnier was the 'BB Cream Skin Perfector Eye Roll-On' in 'Light' as I like to have a highlighted under eye area to brighten the skin. This is £9.99 for 7ml of product but again has £3.00 off (making it £6.99).
I was so impressed with the BB cream that this was a must have! It reduces the appearance of dark circles and bags, conceals signs of fatigue, blurs fine lines, illuminates & hydrates. Like all under eye concealers, this will crease so you may want to powder over this once applied to help reduce and creasing. This has great coverage and glides on & blends perfectly. I have dark circles under my eyes and this does cover them instantly & has a good lasting power once powdered & set. The product can be hard to get out sometimes so a good shake & squeeze is needed as the roll-on ball can sometimes get stuck.
Next, I brought 2 products from. This isn't a range I would usually reach for as I tend to use & prefer Simple but I thought these products looked good. The first was the 'Nivea Visage Tinted Moisturising Creme' which cost £3.65 for 50ml. This has all the benefits of the standard moisturiser but with a touch of colour to give sheer coverage and to brighten the skin making it look more awake & radiant. The colour 'Natural' seems to be the only one & is relatively dark & pinky. If you have really fair skin then I would stay clear unless you mix it with a lighter shade foundation for more coverage or mixed with a regualr moisturiser to tone down the tint. It states to be suitable for all skin types, however, I do add a bit of translucent powder over the top to set it & keep the shine at bay.
The second product is the 'Daily Essentials Hydration Primer' for normal/combination skin. There is also a formula for dry/sensitive skin. This retails at £5.99. The packaging is a glass container which is the only downside as it's very heavy and not ideal for travelling. It is a light gel cream which has the benefits of a moisturiser and primer in one. It absorbs instantly, priming your skin ready for make up application so is the perfect base. I still like to apply and mattifying product over the top of this due to my oily skin.
I like to use this mainly as a moisturiser rather than a primer but if I want a make up free day this is lovely to wear alone to help maintain a shine free complexion.
Next is a product that's been on my wishlist for a while...'Vichy Dermablend Corrective Fluid'. 30ml of product will cost £15.50 and I purchased it in shade '25-Nude'. There are 5 shades with Nude being the 2nd lightest.
This full coverage, but light foundation gives a gorgeous flawless finish without feeling like a mask. It specialises in covering redness or scarring & can be sheered out to give a lighter coverage by applying with a dampened beauty blender or sponge. Due to the pigmentation & coverage potential, this foundation is buildable & can double up as a concealer to cover blemishes & even dark under eye circles. It offers 12 hours of wear, reaching 16 hours if used in conjunction with the Dermablend Setting Powder. It blends beautifully and sets to a satin/matte finish giving a natural, flawless complexion.
I love La Roche Posay's skincare range & I've been looking for a natural setting spray suitable for irritable & sensitive skin. I saw this 'Thermal Spring Water' spray which cost £7.50 for 150ml and saw that it helps to soothe the skin. I spray this onto my face once my make up has been applied & I find that it diminishes the appearance of the powdery look that I get once I've set my foundation & restores the complexion to a natural finish. It's fragrance free & leaves the skin feeling refreshed and revived.
Hannah xxx
The second is a Clinique Chubby Stick in Mega Melon. This is a sample size which is why it's so stumpy! The colour is a very muted berry colour, with a hint of brown & would look amazing on mature ladies who wanted a pop of colour but for it also to be subtle. This is so moisturising on the lips & tastes good too! It comes in a range of amazing colours, many of which are ideal for the spring/summer seasons.
Lastly is a nude shade for you who want to add something to the lip but nothing to dramatic. This shade is called Beige Trench. The lipstick has slight blue undertones so it's not going to make your lips look dead or concealed. Instead it's going to add a sheen of nude, lip colours just better! This is great as an everyday lipstick & can be made to look more dramatic by lining the lips with a corresponding lip pencil to add definition for a night out.
