MAC VELVET TEDDY

This is a post that I promised myself not to mention 'Kylie Jenner' in, but it seems to be the surrounding connotation to the shade and has been for quite some time, so I'll get it out the way nice and early to spare any eye rolls. Velvet Teddy has been on my wishlist for a while now, and when my dad went on a trip of course I jumped on the duty free opportunity for him to get me one on his travels.

This has become one of my most regularly used lipsticks in my collection, and definitely is my favourite by a mile. I think the perfect mix between brown/nude/pink (I could not possibly give more of a vague explanation) paired with the matte formula is what makes this perfect. I firmly believe that if this was not matte, the colour wouldn't work for me. Lasting time is pretty long, even without a liner, and although sometimes I get a line around the lips if I eat a full meal with it on, this is only faint and the majority of the pigment remains on my lips. I would suggest if you have dry lips to definitely opt for a balm underneath else you'll struggle with dryness.

Out of the three MAC Lipsticks I've owned, although I haven't had the widest range of options this is definitely my favourite formula and shade in my drawers overflowing with variations, and I think the countless compliments and constant 'oh thank you it's MAC Velvet Teddy' responses I've dished out, it is pretty clear that this gets a gold star from me.

FOUR DIFFERENT NUDE LIPS

What? Surely a nude is just, well -  a nude? Apparently not, as I reel off the 4 different types of nudes that rule my collection.

The Brown Nude - Maybelline Colour Sensational Lipstick in Coffee Craze. I hadn't tried out the brown-nude trend until very recently, because it did quite scare me. This Maybelline offering is a nice introductory option as it isn't super dark, and it is quite cool toned too. I have to be slightly more careful with this when pairing it will a full makeup look as I can sometimes tend to look washed out but it's pretty manageable.

The Orange Nude - Kiko Smart Lipstick in 901. This was my go-to nude for a good few months at the start of the year and a recent rediscovery for me too. It is basically a nude with a slighty peachy/orange tinge to it so nothing too dramatic, but I really love this one with my skin tone. This might be my favourite formula of the bunch too.

The Pale Nude - Natural Collection Sheer Natural Lipstick in Autumn Sunset. This was actually one of the first products I can actually remember buying for myself, and it's gone through multiple melt repairs, but it is a sheer, balmy, slightly paler peachy pink nude which is super pretty and subtle for those only just starting out with lipsticks - hence why it was one of my first buys.

The Purple Nude - Essence Long Lasting Lipstick in Cool Nude. This one is another more recent addition, and is quite the Kylie Jenner shade in my opinion. It is quite dark and intense, and also has a cool pink/tint of purple tone to it, which I really quite enjoy, and it works really well with a very simple matte eye and a slick of liner.

4 nudes, 4 different ways to wear them. Who wants to bet on how many more I'll be adding to the collection?

KIKO SMART LIPSTICKS

KIKO is a brand I don't own very much from, as I don't live in London, and I often don't want to make a full on order online, so KIKO products are very few and far between my ever growing makeup collection. I do own three of the Smart Lipsticks though, and I do love them.

The formula is quite creamy, and by no means matte on the lips, so not majorly long lasting, although for a slightly sheen-y product they do have pretty good staying power. I seem to have accumulated colours across the spectrum, and I'm fairly sure they are cheap (I'm talking around the £3 mark from what I remember).

908 is the true red, and surprisingly one of the only reds I have ever found to suit me. It's so so pigmented, and one coat has the lips ready to go almost, and I think the fact that it's slightly more glossy than a matte means I find it a little less 'bold' if you will.

912 is a medium pink, that has a slight red tone to it, so it isn't anything fuchsia here, and is one of the first bold lip colours I actually felt comfortable wearing. I'll also add, these smell pretty good, as I find a lot of lipsticks to smell too plasticy, whereas these are slightly sweet.

Finally 901, that I'd describe as a brown nude that is slightly peachy (quite a throwback shade I guess) and I really enjoy wearing this one on a daily basis, as the consistency and the colour is so wearable.

I hope to grow my collection of the KIKO Smart Lipsticks, but I don't know where to start! Do you have any colours from the collection?

WET N WILD LIP PRODUCTS

If there's one thing I have way too many of, make it lipsticks. In a recent trip to Florida I took advantage of the non-UK products and got myself a quartet from Wet n Wild, the majority of which I love.

I'll start with the one I don't wear very much, which is Think Pink (3rd Clockwise). It's too pale for me and just washes me out and looks too barbie, but it is a stunning colour for those who can pull it off.

Starting back from the top is my absolute favourite of them all, Purty Persimmon. A punchy orange red that I never would have guessed would suit me, but boy does it. This has quicky become my favourite bright lipstick and I often even reach for it more often than my nudes at the weekends - it really is a 'feel good' colour for me.

Another nice one from the same line is Mauve Outta Here, a subtle pink purple that appears slightly more plummy on the lips, but still everyday, neither too bright or dark. I really like the formula of these too, they are really thick and almost matte, and although it takes some work for application, the finish and lasting time as well as gorgeous colour wins me over time and time again.

From the Fergie Centre Stage collection is Ferguson Crest Cabernet. It has a more eccentric packaging and a glossier finish to the actual lipstick. This is a deep purple, reminding me slightly of MAC Rebel but a little lighter in colour (although it does show a little darker if layered on the lips) and I'm coming to terms with this one slowly but surely.

If you live in the US and want some budget friendly lipsticks, definitely go and check out the Wet n Wild stand, and have a browse among the endless colours.

KYLIE JENNER ESQUE LIPS

In the past months, there is one particular celebrity makeup-wise that everyone is going cray about. Kylie Jenner and her widely discussed full lips, along with the dramatic winged liner and her fresh chop have sparked many inspired looks to be plastered all over Youtube and blogs and obviously I was going to get my turn. 

I was simply focusing on the 'overdrawn' almost nude lip, as winged liner has been a part of my routine for a while now and is nothing new to me, and I think I have found the 2 products to get me the perfect look. Now, they are both high end, but I honestly think both a worth the money although I am hunting for drugstore dupes along the way. 

To create the base I go in with the Too Faced Perfect Nude Perfect Lip Liner all over the lips and slightly over the edges on the cupids bow and lower lip. This is totally matte, so a lip balm is a wise option beforehand. Then, patted over the top is MAC Faux, which is slightly more plum toned and ties the whole look together and almost nails Kylie's colour on the head. 

Whether she has had the surgery that she has denied for months or simply goes on heavily with the lip liner, it's safe to say that Kylie Jenner is looking on point makeup-wise as per usual and I can't wait to see what looks she'll be going for in the future.

A LOVE FOR LIP PRODUCTS BY L'OREAL

L'Oreal was a brand that I never really delved into until a recent lucky moment at a clearance bin in my local Tesco. I managed to stock up on their lip products which came in at £2 each and I can't get enough of them.

The first is probably the one product I am most excited about, in the form of the Caresse Glam Shine Stain Splash in Romy. Looking at the packaging, this seemed really glittery, but once I put it on there was a barely noticeable shimmer among the gorgeous muted pink colour. What I like about this is the texture - think of a buildable jelly formula, which is slightly sticky but it makes me want to apply it every 2 minutes because it is divine.

The other three products are the Caresse Rouge Lipsticks, in the shades Lovely Rose - which is a pretty pale pink, Aphrodite Scarlet - a sightly coral toned medium pink, and Impulsive Fuchsia - which is a brighter blue-pink colour, all of which are lovely. They come out sheerer than a lipstick, so can either be worn that way, or built up to give something more eye-catching.

I think one of the things that makes me love these is the packaging -  a luxe gold colour and  matching coloured lids to the colour in the bullet (although mine are missing out on this feature, which may be why they were in the clearance to begin with), but nonetheless, it feels really luxurious.

I feel like I may have to go back to Tesco to revisit the clearance section to see if I can snap up any more colours, because I really am obsessed...

LIP COLOURS FOR SPRING

When Spring comes around, I gain a little more confidence in the lip product department, and go for things that aren't nudes and neutrals. I don't go full out with the bold brights by any means (they are saved for summer), but the more balmy, hint-of-tint offerings are well used in my stash at this time of year.

The Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart is one of my favourites of the bunch, as not only do I love the stunning medium pink colour, but the texture of this is amazing, its a thick, balmy, nourishing consistency which makes application a dream, and so a purchase of a few more in the range is on the cards.
One that is more of a lipstick than a balmy product is the Rimmel Kate Lipstick in 16 which is a peachy coral colour, with a finish that is nor glossy or matte, which makes it a little more suitable for the season.

The L'Oréal Rouge Caresse Lipstick in Aphrodite Scarlet is another favourite, which is a no-frills pink that finishes off a look in a swipe. Think, the Revlon Lip Butter, but with a slightly less pigmented look on the lips.
Another balm is the NYC Apple-licious Lip Balm in Apple Blueberry Pie, which is slightly more purple than the other bright pinks I go for but I have really been enjoying it recently - and I must add the apple taste and scent makes it even better.

Finally, one that I hated for such a long time but recently got into using is the GOSH Soft n' Shine Lip Balm in Irony, which is a slightly peachy orange. I normally have issues with oranges suiting me, but if I apply this one by tapping it on with fingers (the actual product is rather smooshed anyway), it doesn't look all that bad.

Writing this is making me want to scour the aisles of Boots to find some more brights in preparation for the warmer weather that everyone is hoping we'll be getting this year...

MY PERFECT LIP COLOUR

If there's one product in my collection that I was so excited about on the day of purchase, but never actually posted about it until now, make it MAC's Faux Lipstick. I think I put off posting this as it is one I have never heard bloggers talking about, and because I didn't choose one of the most coveted offering out there, I didn't believe anyone would want to see a post about it. But, I'm not one for following all the crowds and I have decided to give it some internet-loving.

Faux is a satin finish, so it is matte, but not drying. It seems a touch more matte than the other satin finish lipsticks I swatched in the store, but I have no problem with that. I was going to go for one of the more popular nudes that they sell, but they all looked to pale, whereas this is a 'my lips but better' shade if you will.

The colour is a plummy, pinky brown natural colour which personally, I think is one of the colours that suits me best. I was going to go for Impasssioned at first, but then decided against that as if I am going to splurge on a lipstick, I want to make it something I can wear every day, even for school.

This purchase, and writing this post has given me an urge for buying some more MAC Lipsticks. What are your favourites?

MY FIRST KIKO PRODUCTS

Kiko. A brand I wasn't all that aware of, until when spending the day in London for my birthday with Megan, and we strolled past the store - and some purchases were made. I wanted to get a product from each category I guess; eyes, lips, and face, and I did that, and I love every single one of the products I got, and now I have a craving for more.

I got 2 shadows, 137 which is a stunning red, which instantly reminded me of MAC Cranberry, which made me throw it into my basket, and for £2.90 a shadow, it was rude of me to only buy one. So it appears I was liking the red eye colours on this day, because 133 was also purchased. This is more wearable, but still has those red tones in it. Basically, it's a warm darkish brown, which has those burgundy tones in it that make it that little more interesting. This and my crease get along very well.

The Natural Concealer in 01 made its way onto the till and now as a daily product on my face. I saw that this was slightly pink toned, and after hunting for something for under my eyes for quite a while at a reasonable price, this £5.50 offering intrigued me. Okay, okay, the coverage isn't that great, but it is light, sets nicely, doesn't crease, and gives a little correcting and brightening action under the eyes, and you know, I really like this little one.

Finally, the Smart Lipstick in 912 came home with me. This made me think of MAC Impassioned (Kiko, you are on point with the MAC esc. products), so I snapped it up straight away, and for £3.90 I have no regrets - in fact, I want more. This has been making me love a bright pout, and for a budget price, a few more shades are on my wishlist.

Have you tried Kiko?

 

ON WEDNESDAYS WE WEAR PINK

Catch the Mean Girls reference there? 10 points to you. Recently I have been standing at my Muji drawers (soon to be an Ikea Alex - I am very excited) and staring at all things pink; perfumes, lips, nails, and even a brush. Am I going a little cray? I think so. But today I shall be sharing the love for the pretty shade and going through my picks from the categories.

Lips: The newest addition is the Kiko Smart Lipstick in 912. As soon as I set eyes on this I instantly thought that it was a possible dupe of MAC Impassioned and if so, that is another to add to my MAC Lipstick wishlist. For something a little more balmy, I always opt for the Revlon Lip Butter in Sweet Tart which is the colour that really got me into wearing pinks. Another offering is the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Oxford Street Fuchsia which doesn't suit me all that well but the formula is amazing.

Cheeks: For a powder offering, the Stila Positively Pink Cheek Palette has recently made its way into my collection, at from a first impressions point of view, it is gorgeous, and I can't wait to use this more often. For a cream blush, the MUA Blush Perfection Cream Blusher in Bittersweet is a great one for a budget offering, coming in at only £2 a pop, so I assume more of these will soon enter my collection.

Nails: I rarely sport a pink polish because not many suit me, but these 3 are some of my favourites. Ciaté Candy Floss is a gorgeous bubblegum pink colour, and after I went through a similar Gosh one entirely, this is the next best thing, and I own 2 of them. On the theme of Gosh, we have Flamingo, a bright medium pink colour, which I adore as it reminds me of summer. Finally, we have Rimmel Strawberry Fizz which is another medium pink colour which looks pretty good on toes as well as fingers.

Miscellaneous: So, I couldn't write a post about pink products without including the Real Techniques Stippling Brush which is the perfect blush-buffer, foundation's best friend, and an all round multitasker and my face appreciates it greatly. Then for fragrance I have this mini of the Ted Baker Woman Pink scent, and I love this at the moment, as it smells exactly like the general Soap and Glory scent, and I adore that.

So, I have been thinking pink recently, and it probably won't be stopping for a while.
What colour is on your mind beauty-wise?