Left to right: smarty pants, rebel, fire cracker, funny girl

Back row: Charlotte Tilbury ~ Penelope Pink, Charlotte Tilbury ~ Stoned Rose, Rimmel Moisture Renew ~ 700, Nude Delight

Front row: Kate Moss Nudes x Rimmel ~ 43, Kate Moss x Rimmel ~ 08, MAC Matte ~ Velvet Teddy

Of late I’ve been all about nude lipstick. A few years ago nude lipstick meant brushing your foundation or concealer over your lips to make your lips blend into the rest of your face, not a good look. Now though, the nude lip has had a revamp with shades of brown or pink to compliment your skin tone and create the perfect pout. Today I’ve gathered a few of my favourites both high end and from the highstreet.

Charlotte Tilbury ~ Penelope Pink | Penelope Pink is the perfect everyday nude for any skin tone. The K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick’s from Charlotte Tilbury are incredible comfortable to wear with a slight sheen but still last all day, they smell great too.

Charlotte Tilbury ~ Stoned Rose | Darker and more brown in tone than Penelope Pink Stoned Rose is my more ‘evening’ nude. You can definitely wear it during the day but for when I want something a bit different for evening without wearing a red Stoned Rose is my go-to.

Rimmel Moisture Renew ~ 700, Nude Delight | My ‘summer nude’. Much warmer than any other nude in my arsenal. Without a lipliner this can look slightly concealer-lips-esque unless you have a bit of a tan to counterbalance it. Full review of the Moisture Renew lipsticks here.

Kate Moss x Rimmel Nude Collection ~ 43 | Similar to the last nude but slightly darker making it easier to wear during the colder months as a tan isn’t needed. Full review of the Kate Moss x Rimmel lipsticks here.

Kate Moss x Rimmel ~ 08 | A more pink version of Stoned Rose, another great one for when you want something different from the traditional nude but not an outlandish colour.

MAC Matte ~ Velvet Teddy | The newest addition to my collection and my only matte nude. Long lasting but not overly drying, a brown-nude which perfectly suits warmer skin tones. 

What’re your favourite nude shades?

~ Jade xx

Jo Malone Body Crème ~ Nectarine Blossom & Honey | In the winter my skin becomes very dry, especially my legs and arms. To combat this I’ve been using this product from Jo Malone. Made with almond oil, jojoba oil and cocoa butter it moisturises my skin but doesn’t leave a sticky feeling afterwards where you can’t get dressed for half an hour or everything will cling to you like most body moisturisers, especially those with a thick consistency.

Liz Earle Gentle Face Exfoliator | Of late this has been my favourite skincare product to use. It’s gentle enough that it doesn’t irritate my skin but still sloughs off dead skin cells and cleanses the skin. Full review here.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfecter ~ Champagne Pop | Highlighting was never something I was that into before I picked up this product. If you have a warm skin tone, this shade will be perfect for you as It’s a beautiful golden shade with iridescent particles which perfectly reflect light without things looking oily or greasy.

Neom Intensive Deep Sleep Treatment* | As someone who struggles with sleep ~ full post here ~ I love any kind of sleep oil. Currently this one from Neom is my favourite as its slightly stronger than anything else I’ve tried so the scent lasts much longer. It’s also really great if you’re stressed and need to unwind and relax.

MAC Matte Lipstick ~ Velvet Teddy* | I’m currently going through a nude lipstick phase, mainly brought on by not being able to wear bright or dark shades at work. Velvet Teddy is a shade I’ve wanted to try for a while but with a lack of MAC stores around me, I haven’t had chance to pick up. It’s a beautiful brown-y nude which really compliments my skin tone. Despite being matte, it doesn’t look flat on the lips and also doesn’t dry them out too much either.

What are your current favourites?

~ Jade xx

L'Oreal Infallible - Porcelain

L'Oreal True Match - 1N Ivory

Collection Lasting Perfection concealer - 1 Fair

NYX Wonder Stick - Light/Medium

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder - Luminous Light

Revolution Ultra Contour Palette

MAC Eyebrow Pencil - Accentuated

L'Oreal Brow Artist Plumper - Light/Medium

BY TERRY Ombre Black Star - Misty Rock

OR  Bronze Moon

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat - Pillow Talk

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipstick - Very Victoria

OR/AND 

Rimmel Kate Moss Lasting Finish lipstick - 03

Maybelline Colorsensational Shine Gloss - 610 Naked Star

For my base I like to mix L'Oreal Infallible - review here - and True Match - review here -  as I like the coverage - and need the paleness - of the Infallible but like to add a bit more radiance with the True Match. My new favourite product is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder as it adds such an amazing glow to my fairly dry skin. The shade I have, Luminous Light, has a slight shimmer to it, which allows it to double up as a highlighter too. It doesn't cling to any dry patches and you can touch it up as many times as you like without looking cake-y. I wouldn't recommend this for those with oily skin, as much as it could add to the shine. I also wouldn't recommend to those with very pale skin as it can make my skin look a bit darker than it really is. I'm definitely going to look into trying a different shade as they're totally worth the more luxury price tag.

My eyebrows are definitely not my best friend. I’ve tried more eyebrow products than I can count and suffered many eyebrow disasters. However, I finally feel like I’ve settled with products that work for me. A full eyebrow products test and review post coming soon.

The BY TERRY Ombre Blackstar eyeshadow sticks are possibly my favourite products in my makeup collection. They are so easy to work with and look great with anything. I definitely want to purchase more soon and I highly recommend them to anyone. I really love the way the L’Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara makes my lashes look. It’s very black and dramatic without being clumpy, although it is quite hard to just apply a small amount for a more natural look.

Recently, I’ve really been enjoying trying and experimenting with new lip products and the matte lip look - although as you can see I still can't keep away from the gloss. My new favourite lip products at the moment are from Charlotte Tilbury. Jade and I had a naughty spree in the store in Covent Garden a few weeks ago on a trip to London, the staff were so lovely and helpful and I'm so pleased with what I came away with. Although these products are matte they are still very creamy and don't dry my lips out as much as other matte lipsticks - full review here. Also, the packaging is beautiful.

What are your go to products at the moment?

~Lucy xx

Makeup brushes are the tools of the face and you’re makeup is only as good as your brushes. That doesn’t mean you have to use the most expensive brushes in the world however some are definitely better than others. Personally, I like to use synthetic brushes. Not only because they’re cruelty free but they soak up less product, stay in shape better and decent ones are just as soft as natural hair brushes. Great brushes at an affordable price can be found from brands such as Sigma, Zoeva, Real Techniques and Crown. More expensive great brushes can be found from nearly every brand on the market but some notable ones being MAC, Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown. The most important thing though is to keep your brushes clean. Not only does this prevent bacteria building up but also the less product is on the brush already the more seamless your makeup application will be. Below is a few of my most used brushes.

Real Techniques Blush | My favourite brush for powder. Perfectly sized to get underneath the eyes but not so small it takes ages to powder the rest of your face.

Zoeva Luxe Sheer Cheek | The best face brush I’ve found for applying blusher or diffused contour and bronzer. For this reason, I have two of them.

Real Techniques Contour | To add some concentrated contour, particularly under the jawline or on the nose, this brush is the perfect size. It’s also great for blending under-eye concealer. This brush can only be found in the Core Collection however the other brushes in the Core Collection are also really great and make the purchase worth it.

Zoeva Luxe Soft Definer | I love this brush so much I have two. Perfect for blending but also adding diffused colour into the crease for subtle, everyday definition.

Zoeva Luxe Petite Crease | My favourite brush for adding that inner corner highlight that I can't go without. It’s  also the perfect size for adding controlled colour into the crease.

Zoeva Wing Liner | Perfect for emphasising a 60s cut crease, adding shadow onto the lower lash line or creating winged liner with gel or eyeshadow, see the full post here.

What’re your favourite brushes?

~ Jade xx

I’ve spoken before about my long lasting love for the Kate Moss x Rimmel lipsticks - especially the matte formula in 107, a deep berry red, but more recently I've become a nude lipstick girl. Before I always donned a bright, bold lip mostly opting for a red or in the winter months a deep berry but more recently I’ve been going for a more stripped back, subtle look. My favourite nude of the moment is number 03 from the Kate Moss x Rimmel line, it's very comparable to MAC’s Velvet Teddy but without the £15.50 price tag. As it's a more of a brown nude it still gives life to your lips rather than just blocking them out and giving them the awful ‘concealer lips’ look that you quite often get with nude lipsticks - particularly those from the high street. The formula of these lipsticks is great as they're long lasting but not drying which is a rarity for cheaper lipsticks. 

What’s your current lipstick love?

~ Jade xx

As the festive party season is upon us I thought I’d share with you all my beauty essentials 

for this time of year that will see you through any festive occasion from a 

Christmas meal to a New Years party.

FACE

At every event this party season there’s going to be pictures taken so to prevent yourself looking overly shiny never go without powder - I’m forever in love with the Rimmel Stay Matte - even if you usually would skip it as you may look great in person but the camera will pick up any shine and multiply it by ten. But that doesn’t mean you can’t add a little highlighter to still have a healthy glow - I’m currently loving the Topshop highlighter, review here. You also want a good concealer as the same with shine the camera will pick up any blemish even if its only small. For this I love the Collection lasting perfection concealer but I don’t need to go into detail as everyone and their mother knows about it by now.

EYES

For eyes I’m still loving my Stila in the light palette - review here - as you can create subtle, natural looks perfect for a low key affair but you can also create serious glamour which would fit perfectly for a New Years bash. I’ve also been loving the Maybelline master drama chromatic pencil in vibrant gold for a hint of gold sparkle under the eyes. If you’re going for winged liner this season then you have to get your hands on the L’Oreal super liner perfect slim, I’ve never used a product that makes winged liner so easy and I’ve repurchased this countless times.

What are your current favourites?

~ Jade xx

When packing for a holiday you have to be cautious of the weight of your suitcase and cosmetics and toiletries are really what weighs down your bag. This means that you have to streamline your makeup bag which can be quit difficult. To help make this easier I thought I'd show you all what I will be taking on holiday with me this year.

BASE

Foundation | I reserve foundation for night time when I go out for dinner opposed to wearing it throughout the day for it would just melt off. One without SPF is also great for night time as it is more likely flash photography will be used and a foundation with SPF will reflect the flash resulting in a washed out face opposed to showing off a bronzed goddess | L’oreal infallible ~ review here

Recently I re-discovered some old favourites from deep within my beauty stash where products get left behind, mainly because I’ve bought something new and then I end up forgetting about them completely. 

First up is my very first MAC lipstick. Impassioned is an amplified formula so it’s packed with pigment and lasts for hours. It’s a beautiful blue-y toned fuchsia colour which is perfect for summer. I remember I loved this when I got it two summers ago, never not wearing it but somehow it was put in my makeup drawer of non-everyday bits and was left behind completely.

Rimmel's blush in Santa Rose is a great everyday blush colour and a very old favourite of mine. It’s the perfect rose colour that suits almost all skin tones. Since me buying this god-knows-when the packaging for Rimmel’s products have been updated, so it just shows how long this product has been left behind in my discarded pile.

I love to add texture to my hair, to give it a little something extra than just leaving it limp and lifeless. I bought the Bumble and Bumble surf spray a while back now, used it a few times and then forgot about it as I’m always buying texturising serums, sprays and mouses. I like to spray this into wet/damp hair opposed to dry hair as it can be quite crunchy. It gives a lovely beachy look without heat styling and gives great texture and hold when I’ve added heat to my hair. Though, I'm not a fan of the smell as it's rather chemical-y.

It’s quite amazing what you can find in the depths of your beauty stash opposed to continuously buying new products from Boots. 

Have you re-discovered any products recently?

~ Jade xx

Brow’s are a big part of my makeup routine as they frame the face and pull everything together, much like mascara pulls eye makeup together. I have quite dark and unruly brows which tend to take a lot of work to get under control and after using a fair few products over the years I thought I’d pull together a post of a few of the different types of products out there for brows for anyone who’s just branching into the world of filling in brows or who is stuck in a rut with what to do with them.

The traditional pencil

Pencil’s in general offer precision and control when filling in brows opposed to shadow and an angled brush. Pencil also generally doesn’t take as long as shadow to fill in brows either. That being said it is harder to create a ‘natural’ brow look with pencil - especially if it’s a soft pencil - so it’s essential that you comb through the brows before and after filling them in. Pencil also generally doesn’t last as long as it’s a cream product but if you’re going for a look that needs a strong brow or your natural eyebrows are very thin and sparse a pencil is the way forward. Versions can be found from the high street to high end including Rimmel, Maybelline and Anatasia.

Eco tools - tapered blush brush:

I wanted something new to apply my powder as the Superdrug's own brand powder brush I have been using isn’t very soft and seemed to apply too much product, making my face look a bit cakey - also I found it smelled rather unpleasant. I had heard good things about the eco tools brushes so I picked this one up in boots LINK and have fallen in love. It is unbelievably soft, applies product evenly and softly and gives great control. I like to use this for all face products as it just works really well and I would definitely recommend it. 

Sleek highlighter from the face form kit - light:

As the weather is slowly but surely becoming slightly sunnier - yay!  - I have been adding some more glow to my face. I have been liking the highlighter in the sleek face form kit - full review here - as it is not too in your face and obvious but adds a nice shimmer when caught in the light.

MAC Satin taupe eye shadow:

Jade kindly bought me my first MAC eye shadow for Christmas and I have been loving it. Satin taupe is the perfect shade as it has just the right amount of shimmer. It is also perfect for both everyday and a more smokey evening look. It is lovely to blend - as all MAC eye shadows are - need I say any more?

Rimmel scandaleyes thick & thin eyeliner:

When I bought this eyeliner I was intrigued by the angled top. I have found the tip makes it very easy to apply this eyeliner and do small wings - as I don’t venture too far in to the cat eyed look unlike Jade. It's not joking when it says it's waterproof as I have to use an eye makeup remover to remove all of it at night as my cleanser doesn't cut it. It also doesn’t fade or smudge all day.

Maybelline the rocket mascara:

I have a love hate relationship with this mascara but I thought that I'd mention it anyway. I love the way it makes my lashes look, it really gives them both volume and length. However, I find this mascara smudges above my eyes after about an hour after applying it and it is rather frustrating. It is also a bit of a pain to get off. Other than that, I love it. 

Revlon colorburst lacquer balm - coquette:

These new lacquer balms have been quite hyped over for the past couple of months and I completely agree with the excitement over them. I have been loving wearing this everyday pink with a slight but not too overpowering shimmer. It gives a gorgeous shine to your lips, is so easy to apply - even on the bus to college - and will be perfect for spring and summer - full review here. 

What are you february favourites?

~ Lucy xx

Barry M textured nail varnish - lady

Revlon lash potion mascara - blackened brown

MAC eyeshadow - satin taupe

Bourjois happy light serum primer - matte

Real techniques contour brush

Barry M recently came out with a new textured line of nail varnishes called the ‘royal textured glitter’ collection. I picked up the colour ‘lady’ and have really been enjoying it. Two coats gives an opaque finish and the varnish itself is really pretty. Its part iridescent sparkle, part white glitter and part matte white flecks with an interesting textured finish. Barry M previously came out with a textured line of polishes during the summer and they didn’t catch my eye however this time around they have and I will be looking at picking up some more shades. The best part is they last a lot longer on the nails than a regular varnish because they’re textured. 

I’ve done a full review on the new Bourjois matte primer - which can be seen here - and since I bought it a couple weeks ago and I haven’t stopped wearing it. 

I picked up MAC’s eyeshadow in satin taupe when I was in London a few weeks back and I think I’ve fallen in love. I don’t usually go for cool tone eyeshadows as I don’t think they particularly suit me however satin taupe is great to pair with a warm toned champagne colour and adds just the right amount of smokey-ness for a daytime look. 

I’ve been trying out a new mascara recently and although I picked up the wrong colour - I’m a true black mascara girl all the way - I’ve been really liking this new option from Revlon. It adds just enough length and volume without my lashes looking too spidery or too full. 

Finally I’ve been in love with my contour brush from real techniques. Originally I used this for what the name suggests - contouring - however recently I’ve been using it to buff in my concealer. It’s the perfect size and as it’s duo-fibered and synthetic it doesn’t soak up too much product or make concealer look heavy and caky which I can sometimes find when I use a heavy duty concealer like my MAC pro-longwear. 

What are your current favourites?

~ Jade

Left to right: Smut, Kid, Woodwinked, Satin taupe

Today I thought I’d share with you all my MAC quad. I recently slipped the fourth pan into my palette after switching from buying eyeshadows in pot form to pan form - it’s a great money and space saver.

Smut - a very dark almost black purple shade - perfect for adding sultry smoky definition to the outer corner or using as a powder eyeliner as it’s less harsh than liquid or gel and blends for a softer look.

Kid - my favourite definition shade for when you don’t want to wear a lot of colour but want a little something to give some dimension. Great for when if you want to have dramatic liner but not too much going on, on the lid. It’s not too cool or too warm toned so gives a very natural look.

Woodwinked - out of my small but growing MAC eyeshadow collection woodwinked is definitely my favourite. A warm toned golden shadow I tend to wear packed across the lid and then blended throughout the crease as where blended woodwinked changes to a more warm toned matte brown - perfect for when you’re in a rush and don’t have time to faff around with shadows - but I also wear this with a lighter, shimmery shadow on the first half of my lid and then woodwinked packed onto the outer half and blended.

Satin taupe - my most recent edition to my collection. A purple, silver, brown-y mix matched shade. Great for adding to the outer corner for a subtle smoky day-time look for for using underneath the eyes in a smoky eye to balance the look out. Also great to use as a lid colour in a smoky eye.

And that’s it! What colours do you have in your MAC palette?

~ Jade xxx

Products used:

Revlon nearly naked foundation - 103 shell

Maybelline fit me concealer - 20

MAC pro long-wear concealer - NW20

Revlon nearly naked powder - Light

MAC eyeshadow - omega

Maybelline colour tattoo - pink gold

Urban decay eyeshadow* - Toasted

Sleek blush - rose gold

Rimmel natural bronzer - 021 sun light

Topshop lipstick - Brighton rock

Revlon lash potion mascara - Blackened brown

This eyeshadow look has been my go-to for the past month or so if I’m in a rush or don’t have a specific look in mind. It’s really quick and simple with a base of my favourite cream shadow - which makes any shadow used stay put all day - and a swipe of my favourite shade from the naked palette. It’s quite low-key however I have teamed this with ‘hustle’ eyeshadow from the naked palette on the outer corner and added some winged liner to amp it up for a more night-time look.

What’s your go-to look?

~ Jade xxx