MAC - Marilyn Monroe collection Scarlett Ibis

Let me introduce you to my favourite lipstick ever. Not only is it a beautiful shade, texture and in a beautiful casing but it also has incredible sentimental value.

When the Marilyn Monroe collection was released I was a full time college student and working on the weekends only - there was no way I would ever of even considered spending £15 on a lipstick. I plonked this on my Christmas wish list and thought nothing of it. Then it sold out - I think I actually cried. On Christmas day my boyfriend gave me a little lipstick shaped box - and this baby was inside of it. He had bought the lipstick for 3x retail because that's how much I wanted it. Because of this I only ever wear it on very very very special occasions.#

This colour for me is the perfect orange-red. I have not been able to find another quite like it! It is a matte lipstick however it is not too drying on the lips, applies like a dream and only needs an occasional top up on a night out (I smoke, unfortunately - I am working on giving up I promise!)

FOTD feat. Sleek blush and contour palette

Hands up who needs to get their weave did *waves hands frantically in the air*
This is just a little face of the day from my birthday (before I got deliciously drunk and the rest is a blur)
Face: 
Revlon Colourstay for oily/combo skin in Buff
Rimmel Stay Matte Powder in Translucent
MAC Lustre Drops in Pink Rebel
Sleek contour and highlight from the blush and contour palette
Eyes:
Sleek brow stylist wax in 01 light
Loreal super fine liner in black
Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara
Benefit Eye Bright in waterline and brow bone
gold and champagne eyeshadows from Coastal Scent's 26 colour palette
Lips:
MAC lipstick in Dubonnet 

And that's all she wrote. xo 

Spring time lip haul

Firstly, may I apologise for being incredibly slack with my blogging lately. I have been incredibly busy, with several birthdays deadlines and a new job to attend too!

I have decided to ease myself back in, and I thought what better way to do that then to ease myself into Spring and all of her beautiful offerings?!
Today I am covering my springy lip haul - I can't be the only one that gets a slight hint of sunshine, goes all giddy and decides that everything about my appearance needs an overhaul?

Firstly I bought three Maybelline popsticks in Orange Crush, Pink Crystal and Cherry Pop. I bought these from fragrance direct in amongst a nail varnish haul. Don't get me wrong, I love these handy little lipsticks but being a clear, gel like balm the colour pay off is very minimal. The smell is very sweet and reminds me of summer and these do actually feel very conditioning on the lips. I think the candy pink packaging won me over more than anything else!
Secondly, I picked up three of the Revlon Colourburst Lacquer Balms in Demure, Tease and Enticing. Hey, they were 3 for 2 at boots - what can I say! They look very similar to Mac frosts if you ask me, however the product is a lot softer and although the colour pay off is good you definitely need to keep these handy bullets in your purse because as soon as you sit down for a fruit cooler at Starbucks, these babies will need reapplying.
Finally I added two new shades to my Mac collection. I have been dying to get my hands on the original Viva Glam lipstick for I don't even know how long, but for some reason it always had the heartbreaking "sold out" sticker on it every time I picked it up in my local Mac store. Viva Glam I is the perfect matte red for me - I have always disliked bright reds on me as I feel they look childish and too barbie like on me - this perfect burgundy has a slight brown hue that I love and I feel is slightly less drying than other mattes that I have tried. 
Peach Blossom is my newest purchase and I am head over heels! It is a Cremesheen with a medium colour pay off making this little baby very buildable and very versatile indeed.  It is my go to shade, it is a "my lips but better... and slightly more peachy and shiny and perfect" don't let the name mislead you - the colour is actually slightly cooler than you'd imagine. I originally bought Creme Cup but thought it was far too frosty for me, this is all I hoped Creme Cup would be.

Date night!

Une Skin Glow Pencil

Bourjois Une Skin Glow Pencil G01 - £1.99

Due to working full time, it is very difficult for me to get my shopping fix mid week. This is where my newest discovery - Fragrance Direct - comes in. I'll have a spare couple of bob, or a stressful day (usually the latter) order this and a few days later It'll turn up on my desk! I have heard of this wesbite before, but I had absolutely no idea that they did make up, and more importantly that it was so affordable! 

It was here that I first discovered Une, an all natural, organic all singing all dancing sister to Bourjois. I bought the shade G01 as from looking at swatches, it looked incredibly similar to my HG Benefit's Eye Bright.  

When I popped the lid off of the tube, the colour itself was more like Benefit's High Brow - a warmer version of Eye Bright. Consequently, I use this on my brow bone and down my nose, occasionally under my eyes - as this pencil is matte, I usually use this on one of my "dressing down" days where I don't feel like contouring my face too much - just a little nifty dab here and there really opens up the face and makes me look much more awake! 
Of the Une products I have tried, this has been by far my favourite and I fully recommend this as a fanstically subtle radiant highlighter!

Revelling in the Revlon

Revlon Colour Stay Aqua Mineral Makeup in ivory.

Aqua, mineral powder... you must be joking, right?! wrong.
I am like a magpie with a shiny 50 pence coin when it comes to things which seem a little odd, so of course when I saw this I just had to get it! When I first picked this up, I was very sceptical. Now, it has replaced my HG powder on a night out, and if my skin is looking mighty fine I use this by itself. I am a full coverage girl, and although this claims to be a mineral powder foundation, I would not dream of using it on its own unless I was having an extremely good skin day (which happens very very rarely) I tend to dust this over the top of my make up, especially if I know there is going to be some happy snappers where I am going. 
This powder is very finely milled and contains coconut water for hydration, which applies like a dream and feels god damn magnificent. The powder is predominantly matte however there are light reflecting particles that can admittedly look a little shimmery in day light, but at night or under artificial light this is just the best.  
Back to the coconut water - this makes the powder feel moist and light, but not in a cakey "I didn't take my make up off before I went to the gym" way. 
I am very very pale and the lightest shade has a slight yellow undertone which when paired with the correct colour and tone of foundation works beautifully.
I do not like the brush that the powder comes with, although it is a pretty neat idea I feel the tightly packet bristles are far too harsh on my sensitive skin - a real techniques buffing brush works perfectly for this little pot of wonders.

Oh, just Pink About It!

Essie: Pink About It £7.99

This is my all time favourite Essie nail colour. Unfortunately, it is no longer in the current shade range so I am saving it for super special occasions! it is very similar to Muchi Muchi, but it has a subtle iridescent cool shimmer which I cannot get enough of. 
As with every Essie nail varnish, the brush requires a knack and as with every Essie, it is prone to chipping. It is also prone to "oh my god I love this colour... It's still tacky? Do you know what would make it less tacky... Another layer!!!" With that being said, with my trust Jessica top coat it easily lasts the week on my 9-5 office job hands- and nothing makes the day go quicker than looking at your girly princess nails! I feel this colour looks good on short, long, real or fake nails.

Carley x