SEASONAL EYE COLOURS

It's that time again where the dark lips and dark eyes come around, and I swear I love it more and more each year. I'm a huge fan of a dark lip (recommendations please) but sometimes my natural eye makeup takes control and I feel like I need to shift the dark colours to my lids for a change, so I've devised a group of colours I think are a nice way to ease into things.

The first is Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Gemstone. It's fairly subtle, as blended out of the lid it gives a bronze-mauve/reddish tone and I really enjoy it for quick looks when I can't be bothered but want my look to be rather sultry. The other cream is the Maybelline Leather Colour Tattoo in Chocolate Suede which is a rich bronzed brown which I really need to come to terms with using without looking like I've rubbed my eyes too hard. It sets to a semi matte finish with a little shimmer mimicking that leather look, so it's hard to make the blending look good with it being such a dark colour.

As for powder, I find these need a little more work, but you really cannot beat the finished look. The first is KIKO 137 which is a strong red tone, which everyone was going mad for with the likes of Cranberry from MAC last year. I wanted to ease into it at a cheaper price and last year this was one of my favourites to wear on weekends with minimal makeup elsewhere. Finally is MAC Woodwinked; a gold, bronze, copper blend that slapped on the lid and buffed out gives a sheen of warmth that just reminds me of autumn leaves - how poetic, but there is some serious love for these shadows, and I've already cracked them out this year.

TRANSITIONAL TOUCHES

It's coming to that seasonal change time of year yet again, as we welcome Autumn into or calendars, and sometimes I'm not quite brave enough to go for the full berry lip and smokey burgundy eye, so I thought it's be a nice idea to gather up some of the things I've been using to warm myself up for Autumn (excuse the pun).

 LIPS: For lips, as you might tell from the picture, I do go in very subtle to begin with. I'm quite a fan of the Revlon Colorburst Balm Stain in Honey, and this is actually my second one of the stuff. It's a muted pink colour which is lightly darker than your average pink, and has a semi-matte, long lasting finish on the lips that really does stain. I also quite enjoy the Body Shop Born Lippy Plum Lip Balm as this offers a hint of tint in a slightly berry tone.

EYES: For eyes I'm not quite as restrictive as I am for lip products, and I like to crack out the slightly pink or red colours along with the warm bronzes, that do quite compliment my greenish eye colour. The first is in cream form, and its the Smashbox Limitless 15 Hour Wear Cream Shadow in Gemstone, which is a nice purple/pink/bronze. This Maybelline Quad in Coral Drama has a nice selection of autumnal colours, with the deep red at the end to fit in quite nicely with the season. The MAC Eyeshadow in Woodwinked is also a nice bronze offering for something a little more subtle, but the warmth really emphasises the autumnal ideas.

NAILS: For nails I do love my deep reds and plums but I also am I quite a fan of something more subtle, because I find it hard to go straight from pastel to vampy shades. Ciaté Starlet is a really pretty duocrome purple, olive shade and although it's a little metallic I actually quite like it. Sinful Colours Dancing Nails is also slightly metallic, but on long, square nails, it looks really nice, but I have to be in the mood for this one I guess.

So there you have it, if you would like to see the full on autumnal products I'm cracking out this year, do let me know. Also, the pictures in this photo were actually business cards I got from the Graduate Fashion Week, and I thought they made a nice touch so here's links Siobhan Morris and Toni Anne.

ORLY VA VA VOOM

I think it's safe to say that in the summer, a lot of us enjoy a neon nail colour, whether just on the toes or the fingers as well, for that poolside looking pop of colour. When in TkMaxx recently I stumbled across the Orly Nail Lacquer in Va Va Voom for £2.99 and didn't even have to question whether or not to buy it.

It is a neon medium pink, as the picture would suggest, but isn't the most strikingly neon polish I have ever seen, so good for those who are undecided on the neon trend, but beware, it still it pretty bright. It has a semi matte finish as do the majority of neons do but with a topcoat you can't tell any difference (I find the slightly blue toned Ciaté Black Light Top Coat does the best job as it adds an intense glossy shine and the hint of blueness makes things look even more neon).

I can tell in Summers to come this will be a much loved polish in my collection, and will help me step away from the greige and pastel offerings I had been opting for beforehand...