Fresh Faced Summer Make-Up

Whilst we've all been loving the summer weather, there are days when it is SO hot that many of us feel it's completely pointless putting any make-up on, in fear the scorching sunshine will melt it all away and make you look like wax work from Madame Tussauds. I too, used to have the same fear until I realised it's all about what products you use and how you apply them. Of course, it's nice to wear minimal make-up in the hot summer months but there are occasions when you do want to make an effort and for me, today was one of them. I love this look because it's well balanced, fresh faced and it doesn't appear cakey or too much. The soft pink lip adds a summery touch whilst the eye make-up compliments the rest of the look. So, here's how I did it...

FACE

After completing my usual skin care routine and priming my skin, I began by applying a light layer of Estee Lauder Double Wear. I won't go into too much detail about this foundation as we all know how fabulous it is... The coverage, the feel, the dreamy texture but most importantly, even in the hot humid weather we've been having recently, it's not going to budge! I then concealed any imperfections and highlighted under my eyes with Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer (full review click here). Next, I used Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer (ok, so I know that's not it's official name but it looks and smells like a chocolate bar so hey ho). I contoured under my cheek bones, jaw line, forehead/ temples and dusted the apples of my cheeks with H&M Powder Blush in 'Pink Coral' (full review click here). Lastly, I set my base with Maybelline Super Stay 24Hour Powder, this is a great powder to use if you're prone to oily skin or are wishing to extend the longevity of your base... I always apply my powder last as it blends all the components together nicely and ensures everything stays in place. Finally, I highlighted my cheek bones with BarryM Illuminating Strobe Cream in 'Frosty Pink' for a fresh glow (full review click here)

EYES

Before anything else, I always apply my brow products first as once complete, it gives you a frame to work with, when applying your eye make-up. Today I used L'Oreal Paris Brow Artist Genius (full review click here) and Benefit High Brow to highlight my brow bones. I then primed my eye lids with Urban Decay Primer Potion to ensure my eye shadow doesn't fade or crease. From the Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette I began by patting 'Suspect' onto my eye lids, with flat brush. I then used a large fluffy brush to blend 'Snakebite' into my crease and lastly, finished by adding a small amount of Pistol to the outer corner. To complete, I used Bourjois Liner Feutre to naturally line my upper lash line and Benefit They're Real Mascara to add length and definition. 

LIPS
To finish my look I used MAC 'Please Me', a matte, long lasting lipstick that doesn't dry out my lips or melt under the sun. This is one of my favorite lipsticks as it's so versatile and although it's quite girly it isn't toooo pink.

Neeks ☯

The Best Of: Bourjois

Aloha!

Without a shadow of a doubt, Bourjois is by FAR my No.1 high street make-up brand and for me, it's a no brainer. I mean, what woman wouldn't love high quality and affordable cosmetics that unleash your inner Parisian? So I figured it was about time Bourjois got a well deserved shout out on my blog and although I could happily write many wonderful things about most of their products it's probably best if I just stick to my ultimate favs...   

Radiance Reveal Healthy Mix Foundation

It's no mystery as to why this is a much loved foundation across the beauty blogging world. This light weight, medium coverage foundation gives you a radiant and flawless complexion for up to 16 hours. Plus it's enriched with 'fruit therapy' to keep your skin youthful, healthy and hydrated. Now normally I steer clear from 'illuminating' foundations, as I have quite oily skin and the outcome can be disastrous! But this foundation is an exception of it's own and universally perfect for all skin types.  

Healthy Mix Serum Gel Foundation

This foundation includes all the best features of the original Radiance Reveal including 16 hour wear and vitamin rich 'fruit therapy' but has a gel like texture that glides across your skin for an even complexion and anti-fatigue effect. This is a great foundation for the summer months when it's warmer and you don't want anything too heavy on your face. It has a very natural finish and gives you the boost you need when you're dragging yourself into work after a wild weekend.  

Happy Light Matte Serum Primer

I recently purchased the beaut on 3 for 2 offer. I don't normally venture too far with primers as I do have some trusty go-to's but Bourjois certainly showed me what I am missing. This feather light primer almost disappears instantly when applied onto skin and provides a velvety smooth base for your foundation. I was pleasantly surprised as it minimised my pores which so far only Benefit Porefessional and Maybelline Baby Skin have been able to do. Additionally it keeps my make-up on all day and prevents my face from getting too oily or shiny. 

Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder

Or as most people call it... ''Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer''. I know I'm starting to sound like a stuck record, as this bronzer is mentioned in most of my make-up posts, so don't worry I'll keep this short and sweet. Aside from the fact this smells like chocolate, yes chocolate. This ultra soft bronzer is perfect for that must have summer glow and it can even be used to contour. I love using this because it's build-able and blends so evenly you can't go wrong! As you can see I'm naturally really pale and as a pale girl it's really hard to find a bronzer that doesn't make me look orange (fellow red heads you know what I'm sayin') However, this divine powder perfection allows me to bronze happy without fear of looking like an Oompa Loompa. 

Healthy Mix Concealer

This long lasting concealer is perfect for concealing imperfections naturally. Sometimes when you try and cover dark circles or blemishes, with a heavy duty concealer, it can have an adverse affect and accentuate the problem further. This yellow based, concentrated concealer disguises dark circles and imperfections in a natural way, whilst providing essential 'fruit therapy', the apricot provides radiance, the melon leaves skin moisturised and the raspberry acts as a 'micro-circulation activator' (I don't know what that means either) BUT after using the product for a few days the puffy-ness under my eyes was noticeably reduced and, due to it's subtle light reflecting pigment, I did feel my skin looked more radiant and glowey. 

Bourjois Poudre De Riz De Java

Let's head back to 1879 when Bourjois launched a best selling cult classic. Now, as Bourjois celebrates it's 150th birthday the Java Rice powder is re-born! The packaging initially drew me towards this product so when I found out the lid is a replica of the original 1879 packaging I was left in awe of it. It's one of the finest powders I have ever come across and although translucent, it contains different tones. This delicately scented powder sets make-up perfectly and can also be used to add shimmer to your cheek bones leaving you with a beautiful glow. One shade suits all but just bare in a mind, use sparingly, you don't want to end up looking like a disco ball!

Intuitive Liner

I kinda feel bad for writing about this one as I'm 80% sure it's been discontinued (boo). I mean it's not been in any Boots or Superdrug's in ages and isn't available online so? If anyone has any more info or knows where you can buy this please share! This eye liner was inspired by the revolutionary art technique of Pointillism (Dotting). This 24 hour eye liner has three separate points that create dots on your lash line. These dots then join together in one easy, fail proof application. It takes a bit of getting used to but once you've got the hang of it fine lines and winged eyes are a breeze.   

Liner Feutre Ultra Black Felt-Tip Eyeliner

If I'm getting ready for a big night out I will always reach for this baby. It's exactly like a felt tip pen and allows you to create thin, thick, soft or bold strokes like a pro! It's one of the easiest liquid eye liners I've ever used and is completely jet black with no grey streaks. This eye liner is sure to stay smudge proof and lasts 24 hours so you can dance the night away without risking the appearance of the dreaded panda eyes!

Neeks ☯

My Current Go-To Work Make-Up

Aloha!

Kylie Jenner inspired me, and a lot of other women, to bring back the 90's brown lip. Being so pale it's hard to find the right shade of brown but on a 3 for 2 offer, I found a brilliant Max Factor lip liner, that has now become a trusty fav (good MAC dupe!). I through this simple make-up look together on a whim because I wanted to try the brown lip and it's now become my go-to for work. It only took me 15 minutes, so perfect for rushed mornings, and you can't really go wrong with the matte nude shades.

FACE  

After completing my morning skin routine, I began by dabbing Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser onto my T-zone (click here for review). It's velvety consistancy melts across the skin and fills in all those large pores and fine lines; leaving a smooth base for your foundation.  I then stippled Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum-Gel Foundation from the middle of my nose, outwards. This is a really nice lightweight foundation that still provides full coverage whilst letting your skin breathe. I love to wear it to work because it injects a splash of radiance when you're skin is looking a little tired. Next I used Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer, one shade lighter than my foundation, for some light highlighting and to conceal under my eyes, and my blemishes. Since the eye make-up and lips were to be matte I thought I might as well keep with the theme and use  Rimmel Stay Matte Pressed Powder to set. This is a great powder for those of you on a budget, under a fiver, and does what it says on the tin! 

For a warm bronzed feel, of course I used my ultimate fav, Bourjois Chocolate Bronzer! (Okay I know it's not actually called that but let's be honest it's a fitting name and you all know what I mean) I applied this beauty in 'the magic 3' (under cheek bones, temples and jawline). Applying your bronzer in this way will slim your face and accentuate your cheek bones. Finally I finished the base by dusting Bourjois Little Round Pot of Blusher (15 Rose Eclat) on the apples of my cheeks. You can't really go wrong with these little pots and this shade in particular gives you a gorgeous natural warm glow. You could continue by applying a highlighter on your cheek bones but it's not necessary as the blusher has little light reflecting pigments. 

EYES/ BROWS

I always start by shading in my brows with Rimmel Professional Brow Pencil (Hazel). Now I naturally have blonde eye brows that are almost invisible so it's hard to find the perfect match. I've been using the brow pencil since day dot and thoroughly recommend to all my fellow red heads out there! I then used L'Oreal Brow Plumper (Blonde) to add definition and give my brows that oomph. The reason I shade in my eye brows first is because it gives you a frame to work with when applying eye shadow.

 Moving on, It comes as no suprise when I say that I primed my eye lids with the legendary UD Primer Potion (Original). I don't really need to go into too much detail with this as I'm pretty sure a lot of you will be getting a bit bored of the constant praise I give it (hehe). All the eye shadows I used were from the Original UD Naked Palette, which you can see is looking pretty tired, as I've had it for so many years! This is a realllyyy easy eye make-up to apply and only take a few minutes. First I used a flat brush to pat Naked onto my lids. Then I took my trusty MAC 224 blending brush (click here for review) to contour my eye socket with Buck, a really warm brown, that compliments the lip liner perfectly. Lastly, I took my flat brush again to highlight under my brow bones, the middle of my lid and the inner corners with Virgin. Highlighting and shading your eyes in this way will make them appear bigger, brighter and more awake. 

To finish of the eyes I lined my top lash line with Rimmel Scandaleyes Liquid Liner. This is a great eye liner for creating super thin or thick bold lines. It is supposed to be water proof although I don't class it as waterproof (tried and tested!). I then applied Max Factor False Lash Effect 24 Hour Mascara Now I've been using the original version for 6 years but this one has great staying power! The only down side is it's ridiculously difficult to get off! (I mean not being funny but I didn't take the whole 24 hour thing literally) Saying that, it defines each lash and adds length and volume for that 'fluttery' look. 

LIPS

Starting from the cupids bow and working my way in I applied Max Factor Color Elixir Lip Liner (Brown & Nude). When I got this I was quite skeptical and didn't have high hopes but after testing the water I was pleasantly surprised. It's very creamy and keeps lips hydrated which is a must for me as I do get dry lips easily. It's very soft to apply, light weight and non transferable. I probably had to top it up once throughout the day but if I'd applied a lipstick over the top I think this could have been avoided. Alternative you could always go for a jaw dropping red.

So that's my current go-to work make-up, I hope you guys like it and hopefully give it a go. What make-up do you wear to work? (If any?) Let us all know!

Neeks ☯

My Top 3 High Street Concealers

Aloha!

Let's just cut to the chase.. Concealer is probably more important to me than foundation and was the very first make-up product I bought as a teenager, so I guess in some ways, it was my gateway product which lead me into this vast cosmetic world. I have spent numerous hours reading reviews, testing products and watching videos in search for the best concealers that will leave my skin looking flawless; without spending a fortune! So, as I was carefully analysing each concealer I own, I realised that these chosen three are the only concealers that I have re-purchased and therefore deserve a shout out! 

Max Factor Mastertouch Concealer £7.99
I actually bought this on a whim with a promotional offer but I was pleasantly surprised. This concealer has been specifically tailored for under eye coverage however, I've felt it's versatile formula works really well when covering blemishes. It's light-defusing creamy formula is perfect for a smooth application and the soft applicator makes touching up on the go simple and effective. You can use the applicator to blend the concealer but I prefer to use an actual brush as I don't feel the applicator provided is sufficient enough. It's the type of concealer you twist at the bottom and the liquid comes out through the applicator, meaning it's cost effective as you're not wasting any product. Overall it's a great concealer and has excellent coverage, the only downfall is unfortunately it doesn't last very long in comparison with other concealers I've tried. 

7/10

Bourjois Healthy Mix Concealer £7.99

This is probably my favorite out of the three and, due to it's concentrated formula, has lasted me longer than the other two combined! Now I am a BIG fan of Bourjois' 'healthy mix' range and this oil-free concealer is no exception. Infused with 'fruit therapy', the apricot provides radiance, the melon leaves skin moisturised and the raspberry acts as a 'micro-circulation activator' (I don't know what that means either) BUT after using the product for a few days the puffy-ness under my eyes was noticeably reduced and, due to it's subtle light reflecting pigment, I did feel my skin looked more radiant and glowey.  This concealer is yellow based so perfect for covering dark circles and acne scars, It also did a good job in covering my spots. One thing I would suggest is to blend with a stippling or fluffy concealer brush as fingers can make it look a bit smeary. Also, it's although it's quite thick in consistency, it's very 'wet' so I tend to let it set for about 30 seconds before I blend it in.  

8/10

Bourjois Happy Light Concealer £8.99
Another Bourjois concealer that I'm a big fan of and would recommend to anyone. It's a soft cream concealer that comes in a cute little pot with a mirror for perfect on the go touch ups! It's thick in consistency but doesn't feel heavy on the skin (if used sparingly!) it's pretty heavy duty so conceals dark circles and blemishes well. I also think it's great for subtle highlighting an contouring plus it's very similar to 'Benefit's Erase Paste' (except it's over half the price). This is is one of the very few products I actually prefer to blend with my fingers and this is because the warmth from my finger tips melts the product slightly, making it a lot easier to blend. The only thing I would say is it's very easy to get carried away and use too much! So, begin by dabbing this in light layers, where you wish to conceal, and then build it up so you get to grips with how much to use. Apparently this can also be used as an eye shadow primer but I must admit I haven't tried it SO if you have, please comment below with some feedback!

7/10

So there you have it, my top three high street concealers. If any of you have tried these or know of any other brands which worked better for you then please lemme know as I'd love to hear all about them! 

Neeks x

A/W 2014 Evening Make-Up

Aloha!

It's been a while since I've blogged about a make-up look but lately I've opted for an extra half an hour sleep in the morning! Plus the shorter days don't help as unfortunately it's usually too dark photograph. However, all is not lost! Because I've had a nice quiet Saturday so far and took the time to apply one of my favorite evening looks for A/W this year. I've also committed to ditching the fake tan and embracing my pale complexion along with enhancing the red tones in my hair to give me a bit of warmth for the cold seasons. I particularly like this look as it's easy to wear, warm and a recurring trend but conclusively the eye make-up makes it more than easy to switch up the lip stick (or gloss). 

Now I'm not diving in with too much detail about my base as that's enough info to have it's own post! So instead I'll do an updated foundation routine separately. First off I always, and I mean ALWAYS, fill in my brows first. I know a lot of people like to do this after they apply their eye shadow etc, still it really is down to personal preference. I truly feel it's easier to fill in my brows first, partly because without make-up my eye brows are virtually invisible but from an application perspective it gives me a nice frame to work with. Lately I've opted to shade my brows in with Buck from the original Urban Decay Naked palette, as my hair is slightly darker now, plus I haven't got round to buying a new pencil yet; the only downfall with using powder and an angled brush is that it does take twice as long as the pencil method! (For me anyway) Once I've shaded my brows I then brush them with L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper in light/ medium. This just gives a more defined and fuller appearance; and I must say, after using this, I will never go back to using Maybelline Browdrama ever again! And if you read my review you'd know that I wasn't too impressed to begin with.   

Before applying my eye shadow, we all know of that one crucial step that must be taken first, and of course that's to pat my eye lids with the religiously worn Urban Decay Primer Potion. I mean all I can really say is I've yet to find a primer that can beat this one, I'll apply my eye make-up at 6am and it will still be there, crease free, at 10pm without fail. I then used a flat brush to pat Nooner from Urban Decay Naked 3 palette onto the inner 2/3 of my lids. Subsequently using a fluffy brush to blend Hustle (Original naked palette) into the crease. I find these two shades compliment each other really well as they both have mauve undertones. Before highlighting, I applied Blackheart  (Naked 3) into the outter corner of my eyes and blended it downward, towards the lower lash line for a slight smokey effect. This subtle step is essential when wearing dark eye shadow for balance. Lastly, I used Strange (Naked 3) to highlight the inner corners and underneath my brow bone. To finalise my eye make-up I thinly lined my upper lash line with Bourjois Intuitive Liner and to be frank I can't actually praise this eye liner enough, all I can say is it's very unique and I will be writing a full review very shortly! Lastly, for impact, I laced my lashes with InStyle's Best Beauty Buy 2014 Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara, a mascara, in which you all know, I've been using since it was first launched 5 years ago and never looked back!

To assemble the final look a little colour is needed to warm up my complexion (otherwise I run the risk of looking ill) and what better way to warm up than by contouring with Bourjois Delice de Poudre, or as most people call it 'Borjois chocolate bronzer', simply because it smells and looks like a bar of chocolate. This combined with a light dust of Bourjois Little Round Pot in 48- Ashes of Roses give a sweet warm glow, without being too OTT. This combo has been my go-to for a couple of months now so will indefinitely be included in my 'Updated Foundation Routine' 

Lastly, to finish off, I applied one of my all time favorite party lipsticks L'Oreal Color Riche Lipstick in 290 Plum Passion. Sadly, it seems to have been discontinued but if you'd like to read my review click here. And of course, as I previously mentioned, this make-up look is very versatile so any nude, raspberry or plum lipstick will do the job! 

What's your A/W look?

Neeks x

Valentines Day Inspired Make-Up #2 RED LIPS

Aloha! 

So I know this is a bit last minute but a lot of people seemed to like my valentines day inspired make-up with nude lips post and I had a few requests to do one with red lips, so even if it's too late to try this for V.Day this is a pretty classic red lip look that you can wear whenever you want so all is not lost! My idea behind it was for it to be 40's/ 50's themed with high arched brows, deep set eyes, flicked eye liner and red lips because I think it has a fun and exciting vibe to it. Anyone at all can wear this make-up and it's very achievable even if you don't have the same products I am using. Also I'm not really sure what's going on with my parting today (Center? Off- center? Cow's lick?) who knows aha, anyways enough of that let's begin! 

Face: So today I actually did something slightly different to usual, which makes a change, I started off with my Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (very similar to the POREfessional for those who want to read my comparison click here) I then mixed my Bourjois Radiance Reveal Foundation (for my review click here) with my Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation partly because it's that time of the month wear my skin breaks out and the Double Wear foundation has higher coverage. I mixed it with my Bourjois foundation to darken it a bit as it's slightly to light for me. I then used my all time favorite stippling brush to buff the foundation in for a more even application. Usually I would apply my Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer under my eyes but the Double Wear foundation has a high enough coverage that I don't need to, instead I just applied it to any obvious blemishes. I then added my bronzer and blusher, I always do this before I set my make-up with powder as it seems to blend everything more evenly and also seems to stay in place for longer. The bronzer I used is the Superdrug Solait Maxi Bronzer (light) because it doesn't make me look orange and is good value for money! The blush I use is (of course) Top Shop Afternoon Tea Cream Blush. This is my favorite blush at the moment and seems to go with every make-up look I do so deffo a must for those looking for a versatile blush. Lastly, I set everything with Kryolan Translucent Powder and dab some Benefit High Beam on the cheek bones, this paired with the blusher gives off a very glowey/ flirty vibe when you smile. 

Eyes: I always start by filling in my brows with the Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil (Hazel) first as it gives me a frame to work with. I then prime my eye lids with the Original Urban Decay Primer Potion and begin to apply my eye make-up  (All the shades I used are from Urban Decay Naked 1 Palette). I began by using a big fluffy brush to apply Naked all over my eye lids. I then worked Buck into my crease, to give the appearance of a deeper socket, and Darkhorse in the outer corner for a more intense smoked effect. The next motion I'm about to do is something that I do with pretty much every eye make-up as it really does lift your eyes and make them appear bigger. I do this by taking my chosen highlight (in this case it's Virgin) and I highlight under the brows, in the inner corner of my eyes and a dab in the very center (trust me it works!). I think that flicked eyeliner really compliments red lips (very 1940's/50's) so personally I find the easiest way to do it is by taking my Rimmel London Glam Eyes Liquid Liner and drawing a line from my outer corner outwards. That way you have a point to work towards and it makes for a nice transition between the lash line and the flick. To keep in with the V.Day theme long sultry lashes are key so you can either use mascara; my all time fav is the Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara as it lengthens, separates and volumises my lashes or of course you could actually apply false lashes. 

Lips: So my tip with wearing red lipstick is to firstly find the right shade. If you're fair skinned it's safer to buy a blue-toned lipstick and if you have dark skin then an orange-based lipstick will really make your lips pop! Secondly, alwaysssss use a lip liner! Red lipstick is notorious for bleeding and the fairer you are the more noticeable it will be to your Valentine. I used the Rimmel Exaggerate Lip-Liner (Red Diva) it's great in that it's creamy and dries matte so you could wear it on it's own and it will stay put for hours without drying your lips out. I found that together the Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick (01) and Exaggerate Lip Liner were an almost perfect match. 

How are you spending your Valentines Day? Red or nude lips? 

 Neeks x

Valentines Day Inspired Make-Up With Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

Aloha! 

Ahh Feb 14th a time of spoiling your lover to a romantic meal and their favorite box of choccy's, a time for having a date with your girlfriends, or a time to sit at home with a tub of Ben & Jerry's whilst listening to *I don't need a man* themed songs... (c'mon we've all been there ladies!) However you plan on spending your V.Day I created a make-up idea especially for the occasion and thought I'd share it with you all! 

Okay so a quick summery, before I go into details, I wanted this look to be more of a natural/ sophisticated look as opposed to a glam/ seductive look, which is why I opted for the soft pinky/ browns and a dash of Blackheart  (for those who haven't heard Blackheart is a jet black eye shadow with microscopic raspberry glitter, honestly up close it's beautiful and very suitable for the occasion!). I also went for romantic pink cheeks for a flirty flushed look. To be honest at first I wasn't planning on having nude lips but I felt the tradish red lips of V.Day would be over kill with this eye make-up and I particularly wanted to show you all this eye shadow combo.

Face: I started off with my Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (very similar to the POREfessional for those who want to read my comparison click here). I then used a large stippling brush to buff in my Bourjois Radiance Reveal Foundation (for my review click here). I do have an on going battle with under eye circles and blemishes so covering these with my Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer gives me an extra confidence boost. I then dab on some Top Shop Afternoon Tea Cream Blush (It compliments the Naked 3 Palette perfectly) and set with Kryolan Translucent Powder. Dab some Benefit High Beam on the cheek bones and you have an even complexion with a healthy glow.
You may have noticed this paragraph is almost exact to the Go-To Everyday Make-Up post but that's genuinley because I have exactly the same routine every day other than which blush/ bronzer I use.

Eyes/ Lips: I always start by filling in my brows with the Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil (Hazel) first as it gives me a frame to work with. I then prime my eye lids with the Original Urban Decay Primer Potion and begin to apply my eye make-up  (All the shades I used are from Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette). I began by using a big fluffy brush to apply Limit all over my eye lids. I then patted Buzz on to my lids but stopped as soon as I reached the crease (I find the patting motion is better for packing on pigment). Taking my blending blush, I worked Factory into my crease. I then added Blackheart to the outer corners and blended this down towards my lower lashes, I found that by blending it into Factory and then Buzz it has a softer finish. To finish my eye make-up I highlighted under my brows with Strange and added a coat of my trusty Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara. Of course the look wouldn't be complete without a lipstick so I opted to go for Rimmel's Lasting Finish Lipstick (Nude Pink).

How are you spending your Valentines Day? Red or nude lips? 

Neeks x

January Favs- Lippy's

Aloha!

Every make-up addict has a vice.. For some it's brushes, for others it's eye shadow but for me it's lipsticks. And no matter how many shades of 'coral pink' I have I don't have THIS one. I actually counted my lipsticks the other day, 55 in total, I think it's safe to say I don't need anymore. However, this didn't stop me from purchasing 3 new lipsticks to ease my way into the new spring/ summer 2014 trends. 

And from left to right our first summery shade is the Bourjois Rouge Edition (17 Rouge Millesime) £7.99). Perfect for everyday click here it's quite light and glossy yet gives you a sweet splash of colour. Our next shade is the Rimmel Kate's Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick (107) £3.99) I absolutley love this, with a simple eye make-up it makes a nice statement during the day but also could easily be worn at night time. It's a blue based red so for all you fair skinned ladies this will look beaut. The only trouble with it is it bleeds really easily so make sure you line those lips! And lastly we have Rimmel Kate's Lasting Finish Matte Lipstick (110) £3.99) deffo one to watch out for the new 2014 spring/summer trends. Bold orange matte lipsticks are in- along with simple eye make-up and a fresh complexion. This lipstick particularly looks amazing on dark skin but pretty much anyone can wear it, don't be scared to wear bold lipstick! With the right shade it's sure to turn heads. 

Light and glossy or bold and bright lips? Let me know! 

Neeks x 

My Go To Everyday Make-Up With Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette

Aloha!

So I'm sure I'm not the only one that has a go-to make-up look? Those of you that don't have one you're missing out! And those of you that do have one know that a go-to make-up look has to be versatile, easy and quick! (V. important) So what exactly is this used for? Well for me I use it when I've overslept, have no idea what day it is and in all the confusion realise I only have 20 minutes to get out the door. This has been my go-to for about a month now and has never let me down, the great thing about it is I know exactly what I need so there is no faffing around with different shades of lippy and what not. Plus it looks as though I've made an acceptable amount of effort for the work place. (It actually it took me 10 minutes as I was gulping down a cuppa tea, shh!)  

Face: I started off with my Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser (very similar to the POREfessional for those who want to read my comparison click here). I then used a large stippling brush to buff in my Bourjois Radiance Reveal Foundation (for my review click here). I do have an on going battle with under eye circles and blemishes so covering these with my Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer gives me an extra confidence boost. I then dab on some Top Shop Afternoon Tea Cream Blush and set with Kryolan Translucent Powder. Dab some Benefit High Beam on the cheek bones and you have an even complexion with a healthy glow (all in under 5 minutes!) 

Eyes/ Lips: I always start by filling in my brows with the Rimmel Eye Brow Pencil (Hazel) first as it gives me a frame to work with. I then prime my eye lids with the Original Urban Decay Primer Potion and begin to apply my eye make-up. I used Limit on the lids, Nooner in the crease and Mugshot in the outter corner. I then used Strange to highlight under my brows, in the inner corner and a dash on the centre of the eye lids for bigger, brighter eyes (All these shades are from Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette). Next a lick of Rimmel's Glam Eye's Liquid Eyeliner and a coat of Max Factor's False Lash Effect Mascara to complete the eye look. All that's left to do now is apply a bit of lippy! (I used Bourjois Rouge Edition Lipstick (Rose Millesime)

What I really like about this make-up look is that it's easy to wear and quite fresh faced. The Top Shop blush and Bourjois lippy compliment the Naked 3 palette really nicely for a summery trio. The lipstick is quite light and glossy yet gives you a sweet splash of colour. And there you have it an easy go-to make-up look that only takes 10 minutes! 

What's your go-to make-up look?

Neeks x