Underrated Make-up Brand- H&M

When we're shopping for make-up and new products to try, it's easy to gravitate towards the glitzy make-up counters in department stores. The perfectly pristine counter girls, with their on point make-up, photo ready lighting and not a hair out of place are calling your name and before you know it you've spent £40 on one lipstick and an eye liner. Although it's a nice feeling to walk away with posh make-up, in a little shiny bag, with CHANEL plastered across it, the feeling is only temporary and believe it or not you don't have to break the bank to have high quality products. 

Although, I love my Benefit Highbrow, MAC lipsticks or Dior mascara and desperately long to get my hands on some Charlotte Tilbury... on the whole I genuinely prefer the high street brands and most of them are associated (and develop) with the high-end brands anyway so it's basically all the same shit. Now, admittedly, it's rare I find a clothing store brand that I love. I'll find the odd gem in the Topshop range but on the whole, it's a no go. That being said, one brand that I absolutely love is H&M. I remember when I was about thirteen and was given an H&M eye shadow palette for my birthday. I think back then it was aimed more at the younger generation... you know, the days when we used to experiment with pastel blue eye shadow? However, today it is a completely different ball game and most certainly not child's play.

My most favored products from the range are definitely blushers and eye shadows; each are about £5. Their packaging is very clean and chic which I love as, it's not only pretty to look at but also easy to store and find. Their wide range of eye shadows range from light mattes to striking metallics, each high pigmented and long lasting. The shades you see here (Chin Chin & A Pretty Penny) have seen me through everyday wear to nights out on the town and are versatile enough to mix with other palettes. The best thing about them is they're build-able so you can choose between a subtle dust of sparkle or high impact colour. Another desirable product of theirs is their matte range of blushers. I find matte products, from other brands, don't blend so easily or can look 'too much' so I'm pleased to have found a product that's easy to use. My favorite is 'Pink Coral', absolutely perfect for summer, as it's not too bright yet injects a splash of colour and makes your lippy pop! I wouldn't recommend this particular shade if you're going for the natural look but it's suitable for all skin tones and particularly compliments a tan. 

Neeks ☯

BarryM Illuminating Strobe Cream

If there's one thing that took the beauty industry by storm, in the last year, it's STROBING. As we waved ta-ra to our matte finish products and stocked up on any highlighter we could get our hands on, it's clear to see this is very much still trending. From cream, powder and liquid highlighters, the list goes on and it can seem pretty overwhelming... which one should I use? Which brand is the best? What do I do with it?! Thankfully our beauty gurus are here to save the day with endless tutorials and social media posts. 

As the high end brands launched such items they've now trickled down into our more affordable high-street brands and I'm in love with BarryM Illuminating Strobe Cream! It's most comparable to my usual go-to Benefit Watts Up Highlighter however,surprisingly, I find it has a softer application and is more easily blend-able. It's light, velvety texture glides with ease and it's almost impossible to apply too much. Where as, I find, the Benefit Watts Up is too thick to apply directly from the stick; I always have to apply it with my fingers or a sponge. What I love most about this product is it's light enough to wear on a daily yet it's easily build-able, so you can achieve those Angelina cheek bones when hitting the town. 

The strobing cream comes in two shades, 'Frosty Pink, which is a cool toned pearly pink, perfect for my fellow pale faces and 'Iced Bronze' which is a champagne shade, for a golden glow and tan enhancer. If you're new to the strobing scene and looking to venture in, I'd definitely recommend this and did i mention? It's under a fiver!

Neeks ☯

Top 5 Spring 2015 Lipsticks

Aloha!

If you're anything like me, your lipstick has the ability to transform an outfit, make a statement, reflect your mood and develop throughout the seasons. In A/W 2014 nudes and deep plum shades exploded and MAC Rebel soon became my A/W fav. Thankfully, Spring is among us and that means the sun is shining, new life is emerging and everything seems to get that little bit more cheerful. To reflect this light mood we have bright peaches, matte and shimmery pinks and Kylie Jenner brown's so, from left to right, here is my top five Spring 2014 lipsticks! 

Maybelline Colorsensational (Petal Pink & Peach Poppy) 

Maybelline seemingly hasn't launched a great product for me since the Instant Pore Eraser (see post). But recently, whilst picking up some regular toiletries I stumbled across their Rebel Bouquet Lipstick Range. Their creamy texture left my lips feeling hydrated and more plump plus they're lightly floral scented. You do have to use a little more than usual, as they're more like a gloss, but despite this it stays on for most of the day. Overall I think they're really cute and easy to wear daily. They're not overbearing and inject just enough colour to give you that spring feeling. I would say the soft pink and light peach shades would suit most skin tones. I mean for just over a fiver, they're a pretty good bargain.   

Max Factor Colour Elixir (Bewitching Coral) 

Believe it or not, this one was actually free in a Max Factor deal in Boots. I don't know why I never buy Max Factor lipsticks to be honest because I always end up being rather fond of them, when I receive a sample or free gift. This particular range of lipsticks are supposed to give you the benefits of a lip treatment while you wear it. It's '60% Elixir treatment' and includes a range of anti-oxidants along with Shea, avocado and aloe butters. I don't know for sure what the Elixir is but my lips do stay hydrated when I wear them. This rich coral shade is very vibrant and sheen. It's versatile, as you can wear it on it's own, or apply it over another lipstick to give it that extra oomph. 

MAC (Candy Yum-Yum) & (Please Me)

Okay so you already know why Candy Yum Yum is in my top five! (see post) I was raving on about the lip pencil a couple of months back and for my twenty first birthday, I got the matching lipstick from everyone at work! This mega bright, matte pink has been my go-to for a while now, it's kinda replaced my beloved MAC Rebel and I already know I'll be wearing it to Bestival in September. Please Me was also a birthday present, from my sister Sophie, I'd been easing myself into the '' matte brown lipstick zone'' because Kylie Jenner has some how hypnotised me, and most other girls in their twenties, to wear it. Thing is, it's hard to get the right shade as I'm so bloomin' pale but that's when I received this baby! Just the right cross between dusky pink and light brown... you simply can't go wrong. 

Okay so that's my top five Spring 2015 lipsticks! What are you favorites from the above? What lipsticks have you been wearing lately?

Neeks ☯

Candy Yum-Yum Lip Pencil Review

Aloha!

It's been a very relaxed Sunday morning so far, I slowly woke up while I sipped my tea and browsed weekend city break deals. Glancing out the window, it still looks grey and cold and then I quickly remembered it's mothers day and felt happy that I'd be visiting my parents this afternoon. Before I begin to get ready for my day I thought it would be nice to write you guys a little Sunday morning post, expressing my love for my favorite lip pencil at the moment, MAC Candy Yum-Yum! I've had my eye on this baby for ages but kept telling myself to wait for summer, thinking it would be more fitting but then I thought you know what? Screw it! This lip pencil needs me! 

So everyone knows I'm a big fan of bold lips and I'm lucky because they pop against my fair skin although I reckon pretty much any skin tone could pull this off. I love this bright pink (and it is bright.. like Katy Perry bright) It just screams fun and is very versatile, I've been wearing it during the day with light shimmery eye make-up but will definitely rock it on a night out. It's matte which makes it even better and you can also get the lipstick to match but I just apply the pencil all over my lips, with a touch of lip balm and it's guaranteed to stay on all day.

Okay so we all know MAC is a more pricey brand but I'd recommend investing in a lip pencil because the quality is superb, it doesn't cake or dry out your lips and is long wearing. Plus the pencils will last much longer than a lipstick! So if you know any dupes for this product or know of something similar please enlighten us all and I hope this brightened up your Sunday.

Neeks x

L'Oreal Color Riche Exclusive Nudes- JLo & Doutzen

Aloha!

I've never really been a nude person (hehe) I have always gone for vibrant pinks/ corals and reds along with deep shades of plum when choosing my lipstick. Out of the over fourty lipsticks I own I actually only have one or two nude lipsticks; one of which I've had for about two years (eew I should probably throw that out) I know what a lot of you are thinking but I've always found it near on impossible to find a nude lipstick that suits me and I am sucker when it comes to bright shades! However, on a mission to overcome this cycle, I discovered that L'Oreal have released an exclusive range of six limited edition nude lipsticks that have been 'tailor made' to suit 'every skin tone' and they're so cute! Each one has a celeb signature on them and after umming and arring for fifteen minutes I decided to go with JLo and Doutzen. 

L'Oreal Color Riche lipsticks are, with no hesitation, one of my favorite lipstick collections and never fail to deliver long lasting, high pigmented colour. So when these were realsed I was overwhelmed with excitement. However, if this is the look you're after these aren't the lipsticks for you. These nudes are very sheer and lean more towards a gloss, as opposed to a lip stick (without the sticky-ness). They're perfect for everyday and versatile as you can apply them over the top of a higher pigmented, or matte lipstick, and even where them on a night out with a dark and sultry smokey eye. What's more, they're long wearing and leave my lips lusciously moisturised. 

The first lipstick I went for is Barley Pink by Doutzen Kroe's and you can see where the Victoria Secret model got her inspiration from. It's fresh, feminine and soft yet a little frosty so can still be worn throughout the cold seasons. I adore the frostiness of this as usually I find frosty lipsticks can look cheap but this one actually deliver's poise and elegance. I must admit I was a little disappointed that it was so sheer but after wearing it a few times I've grown fond of it and it's perfect for those 'I can't be bothered' days!

The second lipstick I chose was Greige by JLo. I partly chose it because I love JLo! But also because this one seemed a little more sophisticated. It's very warm and ever so slightly darker than my natural lips. Although it reflects JLo's super glossy pout it's not nearly as iridescent as Doutzen's so this is my favorite out of the 2. I was also pleasantly surprised to find that, for some reason, my lips seemed to appear fuller and more plump with this one. It particularly works well with the Urban Decay Naked 3 Palette, due to the rose tones and warmth; make-up look which I will be uploading soon (spoiler alert!) 

Bright or nude lipstick? What are your thoughts?

Neeks x 

March Favs

Aloha! 

So here we are on the 9th of April, oh how time fly's by! In all fairness despite still feeling the wntery blues, at the beginning of the month, it wasn't long before the weather seemed to feel that little bit warmer and of course the clocks went forward which means longer evenings (Yay!) I don't know about you but leaving for work in the dark and coming home in the dark feels miserable, a nice spring walk with my ipod in makes all the difference. All in all March was a pretty good month for me and as it came to an end my birthday arrived and I'm very happy to say that I celebrated it with all my favorite people. 

So to kickoff today's post let's begin with our first March favorite Bourjois Delice de Poudre Bronzing Powder. I'm sure you're all aware of Bourjois famous chocolate bronzing powder and for good reason to! It's light to medium shade is perfect for my complexion and even if I've applied tan it seems to adapt to my skin tone. It doesn't look orange and blends really easily, not to mention it looks and smells like chocolate. It's definite my go-to bronzer for this time of year, it gives me that natural glow and reminds me that the warm weather isn't too far away. Speaking of which, bright lips are a key spring 2014 trend. Bright oranges and pinks seem to be flooding the covers of my magazines. Okay so I know I sound like a bit of a stuck record here but I really am addicted to lipsticks and this month was no exception. Marches choice of lippy was Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick. Pink punch is a bright redish fuchsia, almost matte, with a healthy shine. This lipstick doesn't last as long as some other brands but it does have a fair amount of life to it and does fade nicely throughout the day. My lips feel hydrated and the vibrant colour is perfect for spring. I also purchased Hollywood Red  (you can never have too many red lipsticks right?) although this isn't exactly on trend it's probably one of the classiest lipsticks I've ever had and because it's not so 'in your face' it makes it easy to wear on a day to day. 

If you happened to read my Sunny Saturday's #1 post you'd see that I purchased the Body Shop Strawberry Hand Cleanser on a nice little trip to Gunwarf Quays. When I first opened it the smell of alchol seemed quite strong but after that all I could smell was yummy strawberries. All I could think of was devouring juicy strawberries in a nice sunny field somewhere. Definitely enough to get me into the spring mood and it doesn't dry out my hands like a lot of other hand sanitisers do. Let's just say I will be going back to see what other luscious flavours they have. On my trip I also purchased Body Shop Vitamin E Day Cream. I've been using this religiously since I bought it; as I have combination skin I always find it difficult to find a hydrating moisturiser that doesn't make my skin oily but this one absorbs instantly leaving my skin perfectly prepped for make-up application. It doesn't make me feel oily and I've definitely noticed an improvement in how supple and healthy my skin feels. Body Shop you've done well! Lastly on my list is a couple of skin products. Lastly on my skin care list, it's the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser ! I first mentioned this product in the Benefit POREfessional VS Maybelline Pore Eraser  post and I still stand by word. Since I've been using it I haven't touched Benefit's POREfessional and actually give it to my mum (she loves it) but if you're like me and trying to save some pennies it's worth a go. 

Saving the best til last I present you with my last March favorite L'Oreal Elvive Extraordinary Oil. Well I say it's my March favorite it's actually been a favorite of mine for a few months now. It's the best hair oil I've used to date. As you probably know I have quite fine hair so I need to be careful that products don't weight it down too much. And as we are all aware winter can take a harsh toll on our locks and sometimes we need to give them a little helping hand in restoring their shine. Not only does it give my hair a dazzling shine and feel super soft but it also smells lush, has UV filters and doesn't make my hair feel greasy! 

What's on your March favorites list?

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