A Vampy High End & Drugstore Lip Combo

For a couple of weeks, I had been searching for the perfect vampy lipstick to wear as part of my Halloween costume and now... my search is over. Say hello the the most gorgeous dark purple lip combination from MAC and Barry M! I really wanted to find a matte lipstick for my night out because they are usually a lot more long-wearing and fuss free than a more more glossy and moisturising formula. In the past, I have used Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in the shade 'Dark Night Waterl-oops!' but I found that it was just too shiny - which meant that it would slide around, get on to my teeth and bleed outside of my lip line. Let's face it girls, that's never a good look!

So with the help of my good friend Chloe, who actually works for MAC, she helped me settle on the shade 'Smoked Purple' (£15.50) - which is described on their website as a deep eggplant purple shade. I love MAC's matte formulation as it is so comfortable to wear and not at all drying on the lips. Plus, it tends to stay in place pretty well even you are eating or drinking (and I will definitely be doing the latter on my night out!)

After buying the lipstick, I was really struggling to find a matching lip pencil to make sure that I could a get crisp and sharp line around the edge of my lips, seeing as it is such a dark colour. I didn't want to purchase a lip pencil from MAC seeing as I had already spent over £15 on a lipstick that isn't a wearable shade that I could wear everyday. After swatching what felt like hundreds of liners on my hand in Superdrug, I finally came across this super affordable one from Barry M. I'm not a big fan of the Barry M range at all (aside from their nail varnishes,) so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this gorgeous lip liner in the shade 'Plum' (£2.99.) I was expecting it to be really hard and drag the lips but it is actually a lot creamier than I expected. 

As you can see from the swatches above, these two products match almost perfectly! I am so happy that I found this incredible lip combo to wear as part of my costume. I am going as a super simple black cat but I am planning to add more interest to my outfit and overall look by really exaggerating my make-up! What do you think of my vampy lip duo? What are you going as for Halloween this year? Please let me know by popping a comment down below!

Lush Skincare Empties

I am rather surprised that I have never done a Lush empties blog post before because as you all know by now, I am a Lush addict! The main reason that I tend to hang on to any Lush packaging is because if you take five empty pots back to a store, you receive a free face mask! I love schemes like this (similar to the Back To MAC one) because not only do you get a free product in return, but it feels great to know that you are doing your bit to recycle too! Furthermore, let's jump right into my five empty products and hear what I thought about them, shall we?

Tea Tree Water Toner - £4.50
I loved this toner water so much because it didn't strip my skin like some harsher toners with lots of chemicals in them do! This spray is super refreshing to use after cleansing and the tea tree helps to calm down any blemishes or redness on my skin. It can be either spritzed straight onto your face like a mist or onto a cotton pad so that you can then gently wipe it across your face. I tended to alternate between the two methods depending on how I felt on the day to be honest!

Mask Of Magnaminty Face Mask - £5.75
Although this mask didn't smell the greatest, I did like the effects that it had on my skin. It was really cooling upon application because all of Lush's face masks are fresh and must be kept in the fridge! It always left my skin feeling very calm and rejuvenated. I got about four or five uses out of this mask and I always put on a very generous and thick layer! It's not my favourite mask of theirs that I have tried but it is still one of the best in my opinion.

Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask - £5.75
Now on to my preferred mask of choice, 'Catastrophe Cosmetic.' I love its blueberry scent but the thing I love the most about this mask in particular is its texture. This mask definitely feels more clay-like and so it's really great at combating the oiliness of my skin. It is also excellent at soothing the skin, reducing the size of my spots and improving its overall texture. This mask is a must have for me and I need to re-purchase it ASAP!

Dark Angels Cleanser - £6.95
The reason that I used this cleanser was purely for its exfoliating purposes rather than its cleansing properties. Its gritty charcoal-based texture not only sloughed away any dead skin on my face but it also soaked up an excess oil on the surface of it too! The only downside to this product is that its really messy to use but if you are careful, cleaning it up afterwards doesn't take too long at all. In my eyes, this is just a small price to pay for such a lovely product!

Ultrabland Cleanser - £11.95
Last but not least is my holy grail cleanser, 'Ultrabland.' I have used quite a few cleansing balm and oils to remove my make-up but none have ever compared to this one, hence why I mention it so often here on my blog! I love knowing that I am using a product on my skin with lots of natural ingredients in it too, as they make my skin feel so nourished afterwards. This cleanser melts down even the heaviest of make-up looks with ease and that's why I love it so much! It is very rich and thick in texture but it never clogs up my skin, which is always a bonus. 

So guys, those are the five empties that I have to show to you today. I hope that you found my mini reviews helpful! Have you ever tried ant skincare products from Lush and if so, what did you think of them? I would love to know - so, please leave me a comment down below with your thoughts and suggestions!

A Casual Topshop Wishlist

I have been loving dressing more casually lately and I am all about comfort and warmth during the winter time! I am often a little bit hit and miss when it comes to Topshop, even though it is one of my favourite high street stores, but recently I have fallen in love with so many items. So today, I thought that I would share some of my top casual pieces with you all.

Trouble Motif Tee - £16.00
I am always partial to a slogan tee and this one is no exception to that rule! I love how simple it is and it can be paired with literally anything - jeans, skirts, leggings etc. I also love wearing a monochromatic t-shirt with a checked shirt layered over the top of it during autumn and winter for a laidback look.

Cable Knit Pom Beanie - £14.00
There's nothing like a cute beanie hat to keep you warm during the winter months and this one really caught my eye because it has two colours of yarn running through it. Plus, I love wearing hats to hide a bad hair day too ;)

Jersey T-Bar Triangle Bra - £9.00
I'm one of those girls who hates wearing a bra and I always take mine off as soon as I get home - I just find them so uncomfortable! So, the idea of wearing a triangle bra that has no underwire is so appealing to me. You still get a tiny bit of support but none of the discomfort!

Slouchy Stud Embellished Holdall - £40.00
This bag is definitely on my Christmas list, as my current bag is falling apart! I love slouchy bags in particular because I feel like you can fit so much more into them and I am one of those people who carries absolutely everything around with me. I also love how it has silver studs as embellishment as I am a huge fan of silver jewellery as opposed to gold, I feel like it suits me a lot more!

MOTO Vintage Borg Western Jacket - £59.00
I already have a denim jacket from Topshop but the fluffy shearling lining both inside and on the collar of this coat really appeals to me. Not only will it keep you warmer during the colder months but it also adds another texture and some extra interest to an outfit too!

Hazard Lipstick - £8.00
Lastly, I have never tried any of Topshop's lipsticks but I know many people who are a huge fan of them. I have heard that their colour pay off and formulation are great! At the moment, my lipstick collection is lacking in the reds department and so this shade would be the perfect for me!

So guys, those are the items that I currently on my Topshop wishlist. I hope that you like them! Topshop have so many great things at the moment so I definitely recommend that you check out your local store or their website to see what you can add to your own wishlist!

My Favourite Autumn Lipsticks

This year I have fully embraced nude lips (I like to blame that on MAC's Velvet Teddy and NARS' Anita) but now that we are well and truly in the midst of autumn, I am back to rocking a darker and bolder lip once again! I have four of my favourite autumnal lip products to show you all today, three of which are from the drugstore, so there are definitely some great bargains out their that you need to get your hands on! So, let's jump right in and see which red and berry hues that I have been loving lately!

MAC Lipstick in Plumful (£15.50)
First up is the ever-so-popular MAC shade 'Plumful' - a lustre formula that is the perfect autumnal pink shade with a really subtle berry hint to it. It is such a comfortable lipstick to wear in the colder months as it is super moisturising and it glides onto your lips so seamlessly! It is a great shade for when you want an understated pop of colour.

Rimmel Provocalips Lip Colour in Kiss Fatal (£6.99)
Next is Rimmel's version of a liquid lipstick in the shade 'Kiss Fatal,' which is a gorgeous dusky purple shade. It's not too in your face but it's bold enough to make an impact! Although the formula of the Provocalips line is far from perfect, (it can sometimes feel really drying and occasionlly it crumbles away slightly,) I always manage to see past it because the shade is so unique and is really long-lasting!

(From left to right: Plumful, Kiss Fatal, Standout, Dark Night Water-loops)

Revlon Color Burst Matte Balm in Standout (£7.99)
I have loved Revlon's range of lip crayons for such a long time now and the shade 'Standout' is no exception! It is a stunning blue-based cherry red that is matte without being drying on the lips. I love wearing this lipstick during the festive season as it is truly a classic red that looks perfect around this time of year!

Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in Dark Night Water-loops (£6.49)
Last but certainly not least is the amazing 'Dark Night Water-loops' from Rimmel. Although I barely get any wear out of this shade because it is really dark, (the swatch doesn't do it justice,) I had to give it a special mention because it is the perfect vampy purple shade for Halloween - I am even wearing it as part of my costume this year! It is so fun to wear and it definitely turns a lot of heads!

So, those are my favourite autumn lipsticks at the moment! Have you tried any of these shades before and if so, what do you think of them? Also, if you can recommend any more autumnal shades that you think I need to get my hands on, then please let me know by leaving any suggestions down below!

This Years Best Soap & Glory Gifts!

I am one of the biggest fans and advocates of Soap & Glory's entire bath & body range, I love their products so much and I always have one of the body butters on the go - seriously, their scents are addictive! So, you can imagine that every year, I am always excited to see what Christmas gift sets that they have on offer. Boots always have such a lovely display of S&G's presents and they are already out on the shelves (even if we are still over two months away from December 25th!) Therefore, even if it is a little early to start dedicating blog posts to all things Christmas related, I wanted to show you the best of this years selection in case you want to get in a little early!

Crazy Sexy Kohl - £14.00
I have never tried any of Soap & Glory's eyeliners but I have heard some great things about them during my time as a blogger. This little set contains 5 pencils from their Smoulder Kohl range in the shades Superblack, Cocoa Bean, Blue My Mind, Grapevine and Aquabat (three of which are exclusive to this set only!)

Well I'll Be Glammed - £40.00
This gorgeous set contains eight of S&G's most popular make-up products, as well as three mini brushes to apply them with. This kit has pretty much everything you would need for a stunning daytime or night time look - from bronzer, to lip gloss and everything inbetween! This is a must have for any beauty enthusiast in my opinion. 

Bright & Bubbly - £10.00
This nifty little gift set contains miniatures of some of the brands most iconic items; Clean On Me, Hand Food, Scrub Of Your Life and The Righteous Butter. All four of these lovely products have S&G's original 'Pink' scent, plus you get a pink body polisher too. Just think of what a lovely pamper session you could have with this set!

Get A Smooth On - £35.00
This has got to be my favourite gifts from the bunch for one reason only... all of the products inside have the Sugar Crush scent, which is my all time fave S&G fragrance. It is the most amazing combination of sweet lime and brown sugar (it's almost good enough to eat.) This set includes a body butter, a body wash, a body mist and one of my holy grail items, their body scrub.

The Righteous Butter Drum - £5.00
This is such a great stocking filler to give to any beauty junkie! The Righteous Butter is one of Soap & Glory's most renowned products and with good reason, as it is extremely moisturising and rich. This present also resembles a Christmas decoration, so you could also hang it on your tree for an extra-cute touch if you wanted to! 

Belle Of The Ball - £12.00
Last but not least is this adorable giant bauble containing four products from the Smoothie Star range, which smells like vanilla, almond and pistachio (my second favourite scent behind Sugar Crush.) Similarly to the Bright & Bubbly set mentioned above, it has a hand cream, a body wash, a body scrub and a body buttercream to give your skin a real treat!

So, those are this years best gift sets from Soap & Glory in my opinion! I think that there are some really cute design concepts within the range and I am hoping to receive at least one of these gorgeous sets myself. Remember that Boots have a 3 for 2 deal on all their festive pressies, so be sure to take full advantage of it if you want to treat either yourself or your loved ones to a good old pamper this year!

The Best Setting Spray In The World!

On Monday, I repurchased yet another bottle of my all-time favourite make-up setting spray, Urban Decay's All Nighter! Up until sometime last year, I had never used a setting spray before and I actually thought that they were a bit of a gimmick but after reading lots of rave reviews online, I took the plunge and my mind was changed almost instantaneously!

I have combination to oily skin and in the past, I always had trouble with make-up literally sliding off of my face during the course of the day (especially on my T-zone area.) However, since setting my face everyday with both pressed powder and a few spritzes of this spray, my make-up stays perfect for much longer! Of course, this product isn't a miracle worker; if it's a super hot day or I have a long shift at work, some shininess may still come through and affect my foundation ever so slightly but aside from those instances, my base always looks pretty much flawless! I could literally apply my make-up at 7am and it would still be in tact at midnight, which I think is pretty incredible if you ask me! It even stands the test of time when I go out clubbing at the weekends too and you definitely can't ask for much more than that!

I personally like to buy the travel size version of All Nighter (£9.00) instead of the original size because it fits nicely in my make-up brush holder, which in turn means that I will never forget to apply it! Plus, of course, it is much easier to pack if you want to take it on holiday with you.

Urban Decay do also have another setting spray in their repertoire called De-Slick - which is specifically targeted for oily skin types. Although, I have heard that it doesn't have quite as much staying power as the All Nighter does, which is why I have never opted to try it out even if I do fall into the oily skin category. 

I do not think that I will ever stray away from All Nighter... I mean, why mess with a good thing?! It is one of the best and readily available setting sprays on the market and I know that I can rely on it no matter what. So, if you haven't tried out this amazing holy grail products already, why not? I can guarantee that you are going to love it just as much as I do!

Hauntingly Halloween-y

I was never a huge fan of Halloween back in the day but strangely, as I have gotten older, I have grown to love it more and more! Maybe it's because I really love experimenting with vampy and dark make-up looks, or maybe it's because for one night of the year you can truly be whatever you want to be! With that being said, although its still a few weeks away, this year I have no idea what I am going to dress up. So, I have put together a little collage in order to give myself, and all of you, some inspiration. Here are the ghoulishly gorgeous and devilishly divine items that I have picked out...

Claire's Accessories Black Cat Mask / Topshop Lace Up Front Body / Eylure Halloween Spooky Eyelashes  / Urban Decay Matte Revolution Lipstick in Blackmail / House Of Holland Bloody Thirsty False Nails / Claire's Accessories Flower & Spider Headband / ASOS Metallic Spider iPhone Case

So, those are the few pieces that I have picked out. Unfortunately, not every store has put their Halloween stock online yet but I still managed to find quite a few cool ideas to get my creative juices flowing! Who or what are you dressing up as this year? What is tour favourite Halloween outfit that you have ever worn? And... if you have any fun ideas as to what I could be for Halloween, please leave any suggestions in a comment below!