June Favourites 2014

So, I'm currently propped up in bed ill, with not enough energy to really allow me to do much more than watch Netflix and browse Pinterest (http://www.pinterest.com/lampysplace/ if you're interested in beauty, home decor and recipes). At least Lolly the Grumpy Kitty is enjoying having some company.

I've been a bit naughty lately and treated myself to new products from some of the limited edition MAC collections as well as a Hugo Boss Deep Red perfume, however, I'm trying not to feel too guilty because they have all become instant favourites, alongside several golden oldies that I have been loving lately.

I've mentioned the Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid foundation (review *here*) many times before and it is a foundation that I still keep returning too when I want a nice even coverage that looks natural yet hides a multitude of sins. I went back to using this lately after the madness I had with the Seventeen Miracle Matte Foundation (review *here*) and have fallen right back in love with it.
The first of my little MAC purchases was from the Disney Maleficent collection in the form of the sculpting powder in shade Sculpt which is a tan matte powder perfect for contouring along cheek bones for a defined look. Whilst it is now out of stock, the closest MAC bronzer I can find is *here*.
Its unfortunate but just an accepted fact that I sometimes have trouble with spot prone skin. I don't know why because I eat healthily, take care of my face and don't have excessively oily skin but I guess it's just one of those things. Nothing works as well for me as the Clinique Anti Blemish Solutions Spot Treatment Gel (review *here*)which has been getting a lot of use during the last month as my skin grumps about the hot weather.
When the weather is warm I tend to avoid too much eye makeup because I find that it tend to smudge a little and just end up looking less pristine than I would like. This summer, instead, I have been sweeping on a couple of coats of the Bourjois Volume 1 Seconde Mascara* (review *here*) which never fails to impress me with its results. It coats and lifts eyelashes instantly mking them look fuller and longer and the result lasts all day without smudging or clumping. Its a firm favourite.
My other naughty MAC purchase was the Mineralise Skinfinish Duo in Jolly Good (review in the next couple of days) from the Kelly Osbourne collection which is still in stock in a lot of stores so you can grab it if you're quick! This soft bronze powder is perfect for fair skinned girls like me who want to add a touch of warmth but nothing too dark. I either use it lightly all over for a glowing look or pair with the Maleficent powder to contour my cheek bones.
Finally, a perfume that I wanted for a long long time and finally bought myself a few weeks ago. Deep Red is a really warm, yet soft and sensual smell which is womanly without being overly sweet. Right now I can't get enough of it!

What have been your favourites recently? Have you tried any of these products? What were your thoughts?

Annie xx

February Favourites 2014!

February has felt like a month of recovering from winter and getting excited about spring this year and I've found myself reaching for spring ready makeup more and more in the last couple of weeks and I think this months favourite products really reflect that.

I love a nice flawless base and I find that the lovely fresh weather we've been having lately suits the Max Factor Whipped Creme Foundation perfectly. It is a good coverage for building up a medium level of coverage with the smallest amount and where the formula has been whipped into a light mousse it still lets skin breath. I've been pairing it with a beautiful coral pink baked blush from Accessorize for a glowing, light flush of colour. The small amount of shimmer hits the light and gives a sheen that enhances cheekbones.
I've also been focusing on bold eye makeup lately, giving some less tried out products a trial so lips have been kept nice and simple. I've found myself reaching regularly for my Brave lipstick from MAC which was actually the first MAC lipstick I ever owned. It is a pinky nude shade that is barely there but gives lips a beautiful definition and lasts for hours. On drier lip days I've been whipping out a little piece of Lush history in the form of the Snow Fairy Lip Tint which combines the benefits of a lip balm with a slight wash of colour. It also tastes just like their Bubblegum Lip Scrub. I'd say that whilst this is no longer available to buy it is very comparable to the Maybelline Baby Lips products.
To complete my spring ready vibe I've been dousing myself in my all time favourite perfume; Moschino Funny which has been my signature summer scent for years now. Its full of beautifully bold fruity notes and to me just sums up so many happy years.
Finally, because no matter how much I try to deny it, it is still kind of winter out there and so my skin is still annoyingly dry I've been treating it to a daily helping of the rich and deeply moisturising Ambre Vanille Souffle Body Cream. I cannot get enogh of this stuff! It works wonders on my skin and smells completely out of this world. It's such a sophisticated, sensual smell- nothing like your average vanilla scent.

What products have you been loving during February? Have you tried any of these before? What did you think?
Annie xx

November Favourites

November has been a strange month for me. The beginning was all about base makeup and creating the ultimate flawless look then after my operation makeup was taken completely off the menu and skincare became king.

A big part of creating a flawless base is a good combination of primers-I actually use more primer and concealer when building up a look than anything else- foundation is usually just a tiny amount blended in to finish airbrushing the look. My first product is always the gorgeous Nivea Express Hydration Primer (£4.99) from the Daily Essentials range which acts both as a light as air moisturiser and is a wonder for smoothing out any dry or oily patches all in one go. On top of this I've been really loving dabbing a little of the MAC Prep and Prime Fortified Skin Enhancer Illuminator (£23) which works beautifully to diffuse light, minimise the appearance of blemishes and create a lovely glowing complexion :)
My Real Techniques Expert Face Brush (£9.99) has been getting a lot of love lately. Its perfect for blending concealer, buffing foundation and contouring cheekbones so without fail I've been reaching for this every day and cannot recommend it enough.
For a long time, because I am so fair skinned I shied away from bronzing products, assuming they'd sit ridiculously dark on my skin and look a little muddy but now winter is here and the tan has worn off I've been loving the Soap and Glory Solar Powder (£11) very lightly applied to contour the face and give a very slight warmth without being too heavy. I literally swirl a blush brush through the product before tapping away any excess so I can be nice and light handed and just create a gentle glow.
My love for Nuxe has just been growing and growing lately and the product that started the love affair and gets the most use has to be the Miceller Cleansing Water with Rose Petals (£14.50) which I use daily, morning and night with a cotton pad to melt away any makeup effortlessly and refresh and soften the skin. I am a sucker for lazy but effective skin care so this is my number one product for keeping skin looking great without hours of foaming, scrubbing and general faffing.

So those are my most loved products from this past month. What have you been loving? If you'v written a similar post then link me up :)

Annie xx

Reaching for Recently

Oh my goodness it's been hot here! Living in the south west we've been getting the hottest of hot weather and boy it makes makeup choices tricky. I'm really not used to having my makeup slide off my face in the UK but some products just haven't been able to hack it!
With a little experimentation though I've found these products to all be fab, even in the heat and beating sun.

Ginvera Green Tea BB Cream- Foundation has been the biggest problem in the heat because most have just made my skin feel clogged or have just slid off but the Ginvera BB cream has held its own. I've been using it because of the good coverage, SPF 30 (definitely essential right now) and because, being from Singapore, the formula is able to stand up to heat and humidity.
MAC Coppertone Blusher- I use this as a bronzer rather than a blush and just use  little to contour cheeks and add definition but the colour is gorgeous in the sun and I find MAC powders are the best for being long lasting but weightless on the skin.
MAC Lightscapade Skin Finish- This is a product that I've loved since purchasing but as someone whos a little hooked on highlighters, it can tend to be a little neglected. In the same way as Coppertone, the powder feels weightless on the skin but sits beautifully and lasts for hours. I use this around the outer corners of my eyes, along cheek bones and down the centre of my nose to highlight...and it also helps keep my foundation on!
MAC Painterly Paint Pot- Always a staple product for me. I've found that more than ever I've been needing something to keep eyeshadow sat in place and MAC paint pots are simply unbeatable, especially Painterly as it also evens out colour and conceals dark circles.
Lush Strong Lipstick- The whole Lush Emotional Brilliance range has been really good through the heat actually. I find the colours stay in place, don't dry out and also don't spread half way across my face if I get sweaty. I've been wearing Strong a lot because the warm toned red is really pretty and on trend. The long lasting formula also really helps when you need to constantly be drinking water but don't have time to re-apply constantly :p
Lush Sophisticated Eyeshadow- Another Emotional Brilliance colour! Sophisticated is a soft, shimmery colour that is really easy to wear and I've been loving it just with a little mascara for a quick and effortless look that stays in place.
17 Lip Liner- One final staple has been a clear, slightly illuminating lip liner that stops lipstick from feathering across my face from excess heat. This one was really cheap but works just as well as others I've tried and for me, that makes it a winner!

Worn together, I think these items work really well and create a soft, fresh faced look thats easy to maintain in the heat.
One thing that I've really noticed though is that MAC seems to be an unbeatable brand in this weather, which only makes me love it more :)
Have you found your makeup routine has suffered in the sun? What products have you been reaching for most? Or have you been braving a bare faced look like I wish I was brave enough to?
Annie xx

FOTD- Fresh Faced and Wide Eyed

I think I may have found it! I mean my perfect non-designer foundation!
You may remember that the other day I blogged about some cheeky payday buys. One of those was the Instant Radiance Foundation by No 7 which I picked up for £12.50, well it turns out that its really great!

I admit that usually I'm a bit of a foundation snob because I think that there's no point in using high end paint on a cheapo canvas so I usually spend quite a bit to get the best base possible for my makeup but I've not liked a foundation this much since accidentally falling for the Dior BB cream so I'm more than happy...along with my bank balance! I won't say too much now because I have a full review coming up tomorrow, but for now I'll just say that the finish is light, dewy and fresh; just what I like for summer.

So whats on my mug?
Face:

• No 7 Instant Radiance Foundation in cool vanilla
• Nars Orgasm Blusher
• Lush Emotional Brilliance Sheer Powder
• Illamasqua Gleam in Aurora
• Lush Feeling Younger Highlighter

Eyes:

• Bobbi Brown Mahogany powder on brows
• MAC Painterly paint pot
• MAC Eclair paint pot
• Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara

Lips:

• Lush Strong lipstick
• Lush Vibrance lipstick

It always amazes me when I write down how many different products I use without realising. I swear it doesn't feel like it at the time. Do you find that too?

Have you tried any of the No 7 foundations? What do you think?

Annie xx

MAC Baking Beauties Eclair Paint Pot Review

After my last MAC review which was less than positive, I simply had to show you the other product I bought that same day and instantly fell in love with; the Eclair Paint Pot which is part of the limited edition Baking Beauties collection.

MAC paint pots are already a firm favourite of mine due to the long lasting colour, crease proof formula and pretty colours and I could have happily bought all of the limited edition shades if my budget allowed...and still might have to go back for Moon Cake if it's still available when I get paid ;)

Eclair is a beautiful light chocolate shade with a gold pearl gleam running through it. In some lights it appears dark brown where as in others it's lit up and full of deep gold warmth.

The colour is very buildable and can either be used lightly and blended out for a fairly natural glow with a nude eye or worn heavier for a deep chocolatey look which I personally favour.

In terms of wear, I have no trouble wearing this colour across the lid as a thick liner and find that it does not crease at all even with no primer and it also doesn't fade. I usually use a dab of the Painterly paint pot to even out the colouring of the full lid then swipe this along the top. Its a really simple way to get a pretty, made up look without spending hours or having any maintenance.

Over all, I think this may actually be one of my favourite ever MAC products, and more than makes up for the nail varnish fiasco and I already know it will be worn to death. Eclair costs £14.50 and whilst it's sold out on the website, I've seen it on several MAC counters in stock over the last few days so it is still out there if you're quick! Similar shades you can get online that are similar though are Rubenesque (which does have shimmer) or Quite Natural and Groundwork (which are pretty chocolate shades with no shimmer) all of which are part of the permanent collection :)

What do you think of Eclair? Do you love the shade as much as I do? Have you used the Paint Pots before?

Annie xx

MAC Temperature Rising Collection Scorching Haute Nail Varnish Review

Sunday was a naughty day and I found myself at the MAC counter drooling over all of the pretty colours whilst two of my friends tried to drag me away! Everything is just so pretty and pigmented!
In the end I made two cheeky purchases, both limited edition, and both sooo gorgeous.
The first was the Scorching Haute nail varnish from the Temperature Rising collection.

Scorching Haute is a peautiful bright purple glitter polish and is every bit as pretty on the nails as in the bottle. Its the perfect colour for tanned summer skin!
There is a mixture of fine and slightly larger pieces of glitter floating in a purple base colour and you only need two thin coats to create a great, full cover glitter effect. On top of this I used a single coat of Nails Inc caviar top coat for extra shine and I have to say, I was so happy with the finished effect. They looked perfect.

However...
This second photo was taken this morning after having only painted them yesterday evening and after not having done anything harsh on the hands at all. I was gutted. Two coats of high quality glitter polish, complete with a high quality top coat should not be chipping in under 12 hours, especially when more than half of that time was spent asleep!

These two photos show how my two hands look now, after just one day wearing the nail varnish. I haven't been at work, I haven't done anything such as washing up that would expose them to much water and haven't really done anything out of the usual.
This is my first MAC nail varnish and I have to say that I won't be spending the money on another because I've just been so disappointed. I have always been a big MAC fan, as you will know from all my reviews, but this has really knocked my faith in the quality of their formulas a little. Such a shame.
Scorching Haute cost me £11 and is a limited edition product so if you do fancy giving it a go then get in there fast.
Annie xx

Makeup on the Go

I'm a bit of a control freak. I always have to do lots of planning and I tend to do a lot of thinking ahead so of course I have a little makeup kit in my handbag at all times, ready for lipstick re-application and powder emergencies :)
So what do I carry?

I got this Weird Fish tin in a goody bag from the designer fashion show during Bath Fashion Week and thought it was a pretty weird gift and couldn't for the life of me think of a use for it until I happened to clear all the lipsticks out of the bottom of my handbag and shove them in there for safe keeping temporarily. Temporarily kind of became permanently and other bits and pieces have been added to make a little emergency kit :)

Of course I have my holy grail tin of Lanolips Golden Ointment* (reviewed here) in there, ready to soften my skin if its ever feeling a bit sore and dry and a back up lip balm for if I can't find my faithful Lush Honey Trap one for whatever reason.
I also keep a small pot of Bare Minerals mineral finishing powder in there along with a mini kabuki to rid my face of any shine that may creep up during the day.
My lovely MAC Fast Fleet blusher has also made its home in my makeup tin because I've found its a great blusher for adding a little extra definition and colour to cheeks for an evening look so I use the Benefit brush that I've popped in there to do a spot of contouring after work so I can head straight out.
Finally, I always seem to have two or three lipsticks in the tin, usually one red and one bright pink because those are my two go to colours. In the photo above the lipsticks are MAC Girl About Town and Lush Power. Girl About Town lives perminantly in my handbag because I am so so in love with it, it's definitely my go to lipstick!

Occasionally if I'm feeling a bit bored I'll swap things around a bit and add an eyeshadow or if I know I'll be out over night I grab a mascara to go in the tin too, I also have wet wipes in my handbag constantly to battle panda eyes in the morning, but in general, this is my handbag makeup collection :)

Do you carry a makeup tin/bag around in your handbag? What do you keep in yours?
Annie xx

Makeup Mugshot- Taking the Plunge

For some time I've been debating getting a pretty major hair cut. I love my big, flowing mane but its a nightmare to wash and tangles like no ones business so, spurred on by the sunshine and an urge to be able to dye my hair without needing 2 bottles of dye I went and got chopped :)
So heres new Annie!

What do you think? I've had about 4 inches off the bottom and lots of shape and layering put in to give me back some bounce and I love it! The next step is to dye it a nice bright colour, I'm thinking maybe dark purple or red.
Makeup wise I've been loving black eyeliner in my waterline recently. Just enough to make my eyes look nice and bright without being too heavy, combined with fairly neutral eyeshadow and dark pink lips.

Face:
Bourjois 123 perfect foundation
Nars Orgasm blusher
Lush Emotional Brilliance face powder
Lush Feeling Younger highlighter

Eyes:
Bobbi Brown Mahogany powder on brows
Lush Sophisticated cream eyeshadow
Rimmel scandaleyes waterproof black eyeliner
Soap and Glory thick and fast mascara

Lips:
MAC Pink Nouveau lipstick

So what do you think of my new hair? Do you think it suits me? And the most important question; red or purple dye?
Annie xx

Makeup Mugshot- Just Another Manic Monday

I've had that song stuck in my head for hours now. It feels like a while since I've posted a mugshot so heres todays makeup from 7.30 this morning. It feels like spring is finally starting to show itself so I've been going for light and glowing the last few days :)

 I'm loving these Russian doll earrings at the moment, I like that they're nice and eye catching, especially worn against fairly subtle makeup.

Products Used:

Face-
Rimmel Wake Me Up foundation in True Ivory
Seventeen Oh So Spring blusher in coral
Lush Emotional Brilliance face powder
Benefit High Beam highlighter

Eyes-
Bobbi Brown mahogany on brows
MAC Paint pot in Painterly
Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara

Lips-
Lush Mint Julips lip scrub
Seventeen Honey Trap lipstick

What do you think of todays mugshot? Have you posted any looks recently? What look have you been going for?
Annie xx

Makeup Mugshot: Minerals and Shimmer

Today has been amazing so far, I got offered a new job which I'm really excited to start, the sun has been shining and actually giving off warmth aaand I've been shopping (photos here). To celebrate such a fab day I'm going out this evening with my lovely mummy :)

Today I kept makeup pretty simple, going for subtle cheeks and lips, a little shimmer on the eyelids but lots of super black mascara, I just love the look of my lashes with the Soap and Glory Thick and Fast mascara *review here*
Lolly the Grumpy Kitty is having one of her clingy days and growls whenever I try to move her from my lap so she's in my mugshots too today haha.

Products used:

Face:
Bourjois 123 perfect foundation in light vanilla
Lush sheer face powder in emotional brilliance
Miners blush and bronze duo
Bare Minerals warmth all-over
Benefit High Beam
Topshop Brighten concealer pen

Eyes:
Bobbi Brown mahogany shadow on brows
Bobbi Brown baby pink shadow all over lid
Catrice Made to Stay cream eyeshadow
Soap and Glory Thick and Fast Mascara

Lips:
MAC Brave lipstick

It always amazes me listing down what I've used just how much makeup it takes to look like you...only a bit better because I'd definitely call my very made up face a natural look. Madness eh what we do to feel confident :)
Have a good monday! I am!
Annie xx

Review: M.A.C Love Forever Lipstick

The other day I blogged about my latest M.A.C haul from CCO. One of the things I bought was the Love Forever  ProLongwear Lipcreme; a beautiful creamy pink lipstick with great staying power.

Its no secret that I love a bright pink lipstick...or any bright lipstick to be frank and this one definitely fulfilled my brightness quota.

Unlike the usual lipstick offerings from M.A.C this one isn't the usual bullet shape, and infitting with the lipcreme idea, the flat top is reminiscent of a more moisturising lip balm product. I do like this, but with a product that is so highly pigmented I think it does make it a little harder to apply neatly so I do favour the bullet shape.

The lipstick applies really easily and gives a bright coating of colour with just a couple of sweeps. I would describe the colour as a fairly bubblegum shade of pink that is paler than my usual Girl about Town or Moxie, but its really pretty and great for softening a rockier smoky eye. In the photo above I'm wearing it with M.A.C Blue Stripe powerpoint liner which I bought at the same time :) In terms of longevity I find that Love Forever lasts around four hours before I need to top up, and as its a creme rather than your average lipstick it doesn't dry out or make lips sore, yay!

Over all, I rate Love Forever really highly as a product and the only slight complaint I have is with the shape, but all it takes is a careful touch and you can still create a neat line.
How about you, what do you think? Is this a colour you would wear? Have you used a M.A.C lipcreme before? I'll definitely be looking out for more :)
Annie x

My Latest MAC Haul

It was almost two weeks ago now that I visited the Cosmetics Company Outlet in Swindon and topped up my beloved MAC collection with some bargains. For those who don't know, Cosmetics Company Outlet (CCO) is the outlet for all Estee Lauder owned brands, including MAC, Bobbi Brown, Estee Lauder, Origins, Smashbox and Bumble and Bumble. There are a fair few stores across America, however, in England I believe there are only three or four which makes the rare visits even more special.

For me, I was actually pretty restrained and only came away with two lipsticks, an eyeshadow pan for my palette and a kohl eyeliner. What made me most excited though was that the Venomous Villains lipstick, Violetta, and the Hey, Sailor! eyeliner, Blue Stripe were both limited edition products that I wanted but didn't manage to get hold of when they were in MAC stores.
So, what I got:
Pro Longwear lip creme in Love Forever- This lip creme is a pretty bright pink with a blue toned base. It is super long lasting but not at all drying like most long wear lip products. The composition is different to the average MAC lipstick which is why it is classed as a creme. I have a FOTD post lined up to review this already so that will probably be up in the next few days.

Venomous Villains Amplified lipstick in Violetta- Definitely my favourite buy of the haul. This lipstick is a gorgeous purple colour that is oh so bold against my pale skin. Once again it has a blue toned base but there is enough pink to it that it doesn't look too unusual on the skin. I haven't found this to dry out my lips at all, and it lasts around 4-5 hours before I need to touch up. Review to come early next week.

Ahoy, Sailor! Powerpoint eye pencil in Blue Stripe- I was drawn to this colour as the blue is so smokey and intense that it is almost black but with a sexy blue shimmer. Its hard to explain my love for it in a way that people will understand but it is an incredibly sexy colour. It is also a very long lasting, smudge proof liner which makes me so happy. Its actually what I'm wearing around my eyes in the Love Forever review so you'll see it soon!

Eyeshadow palette pan in Bright Sunshine- I've wanted a really pigmented yellow shadow for a long time and this one fits the bill perfectly. It is almost gold in some lights but it the perfect warm yellow shadow. I like to wear it either alone in a bright line along the top lash line, or blended in with a lime green for an uber summery look.

So theres my latest haul from MAC. What do you think? Have you got any of these products? Aren't they just so typically me?

Annie x

A Little Self Revelation- Weekend Trip Cosmetics

This weekend I'm off to Canterbury for a long weekend so all my essentials have been packed up ready to go.
As I was laying them out I noticed a rather strong trend so I thought I'd take a snap and show you guys what I cannot live without.
It's no secret that I work at Lush and am a big supporter of almost all the products that we sell, but despite using my skin care products twice a day I had never really noticed that I use nothing other than Lush bits and pieces.
When it comes to makeup Lush has also crept in to my routine, especially the Emotional Brilliance range, however, MAC is my true love, always has been and always will be. There are only 5 makeup products that I'm taking away that aren't either MAC or Lush. Yet, again, I hadn't noticed. Weird.

So what are my essentials?

Skin care:

• Lush 9 to 5 cleanser
• Lush tea tree toning water
• Lush enchanted eye cream
• Lush grease lightening spot treatment
• Lush Imperialis facial moisturiser
• Lush bubblegum lip scrub
• Lush dream cream moisturiser
• Lush soft coeur massage bar
• Lush sea spray texturising hair spray

My skin tends to be combination and slightly spot prone so I pile on the simple, light facial products. If anyone would be interested in me giving a more in depth skin care post then do let me know, I just don't want to go too in depth now and sound like a walking, talking Lush advert.

Makeup:

• MAC studio fix foundation in NC15
• Natural Collection sheer loose powder
• MAC blush in Fleet Fast
• MAC blush in Peachykeen
• Lush feeling younger skin tint
• Bobbi Brown pastel palette
• MAC painterly paint pot
• Catrice Powerstay eyeshadow
• MAC royal hue shadestick
• MAC so there Jade powerpoint eye pencil
• MAC venomous villains my dark magic mineralised shadow
• Eyeko skinny liner
• Max Factor false lash effect mascara
• MAC red racer lipstick
• MAC girl about town lipstick
• (not pictured as its in my handbag already haha) MAC moxie lipstick

Phew, so yeah, a lot of MAC and Lush in my essentials stash at the moment. The amount of MAC that I use at the moment is perhaps what surprised me the most as I've always been the sort of person who experiments a lot with different brands and colours but recently I've found that I always come back to MAC because the quality is just so amazing. I just cannot fault it. And as for Lush, its no exaggeration when I say that I've honestly never had more faith in a brand. The reason that I fought so hard to get a job there and that I have a tendency to go on and on about the products is because they totally work and thats an impressive claim to be able to make. If anyone does want to find out more about the skin care then let me know because I'd love to be able to go into a bit more detail about how they work and why :)

Annie x

ps, if you could all do me a huge favour and like *this* photo of me then I would love you forever xxx

MAC by Request Swatches and Review

Recently I blogged about the latest collection released by MAC, MAC by Request. I ordered two lipsticks from the collection; Moxie and Candy Yum Yum and I've fallen head over heels with them so a review was definitely in order :)

Both lipsticks that I ordered have a matte finish and are pretty pink shades. I'm a bold lipstick person so this suits me just fine.

Candy Yum Yum is the first of the two that I tried. It is listed on the website as "neon pink" and its true that it is an incredibly bold, bright shade... or what I'd call Barbie pink. As it is such a statement colour, I would definitely recommend wearing with just a slick of mascara or with a small amount of subtle eyeliner so that you don't over do your look.

I find that the colour applies really smoothly to lips and gives a very pigmented colour. I always use a lip scrub before applying so that it doesn't cling to any dry patches. This colour can be rather drying after a few hours wear so carrying a lip balm around with you might be a good idea but over all, it is a fab colour that is surprisingly wearable if you're brave.

Moxie is a darker shade, described on the MAC website as "bright pink" however I dont think this is perhaps a true representation of the colour. Instead, I would describe it as a deep, blue toned pink. Another statement colour, I would again keep the rest of your makeup fairly simple with this lipstick, however I've been wearing it with Lush Fantasy eyeliner which is a sparkly gold colour, or thick black cat winged eyeliner so there is more scope here. I think rock inspired looks are great with it because it is just dark enough to hold its own.

I find that Moxie applies brilliantly, and doesn't emphasize any dry patches. I still use a lip scrub before applying for a smooth look, however that isn't as important as with Candy Yum Yum. A lot of lipsticks I own in similar shades tend to feather slightly however I have not found that with this lipstick. Again, it can be a little drying on the lips after a few hours but not as much as some. I find this colour very wearable and fairly versatile and would recommend it to anyone after a gorgeous dark pink shade thats still nice and bright.

The whole collection is still currently available exclusively online *here* and consists of these two lipsticks, a third lipstick, three lipglasses and three eyeshadows. I have been really impressed with the colour, staying power and versatility of the pieces that I bought so I think this limited collection is worth a look. I may have to add the third lip colour; Rocker to my collection, as well as the Cult of Cherry lipglass :P

What do you think of these colours? Would you be brave enough to wear them? Which is your favourite?
Annie x

Makeup Mugshot #10 New Hair!

Today I was treated to an amazing Toni and Guy haircut(*) in their Bath New Bond Street store by Jordan, one of their uber friendly stylists. I thought, new season, new style so I've gone for quite a change.

I have my beloved fringe back, all thick and choppy again, oh how I missed it during the summer. We also decided to take about 3 inches off the length which has given a lot more volume back.
On to the makeup!
At the moment I tend to use the same Bourjois foundation (123 perfect in light vanilla) each day. I also used MAC Fleet Fast blusher and Lush Feeling Younger skin tint to brighten the look up.
On my eyes I used Bobbi Brown Mahogany eyeshadow to fill my brows, MAC Painterly paint pot as a base colour, Maybeline Colour Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze all around the eye, lined the water line with Bobbi Brown Charcoal kohl eyeliner to define and finished with Max Factor False Lash Effect mascara.
On my lips I used MAC Red Racer lipstick after having a good old scrub with Lush Bubblegum lip scrub.

What do you think of my new hair? I've so missed the fringe!
Annie x

Makeup Mugshot ...Ooooh, Shiny

So, autumn is definitely here. The weather has been rubbish for days and my hat and scarf have been traveling everywhere with me so to brighten things up a bit and cheer myself up I went for bright, sparkly colours today :)

On my face I kept things pretty simple and just used Ginvera BB cream, accessorize blusher and Lush Feeling Younger skin tint as a highlighter along my cheek bones and under my brows.
On my eyes I started with a base of MAC Painterly Paint Pot to prime all over the lid, I then used a 17 plum purple shadow from the lashes up to the crease. Next I lined along the lashes with Lush Fantasy gold eyeliner. On the bottom lash line I used Catrice Made to Stay cream shadow in Lord of the Blings and I blackened the water line using my Bobbi Brown kohl liner. To finish off I applied a thick coat of my trusty  Max Factor False Lash Effect.
On my lips I used Lush lipstick in Believe and topped it off with a coat of clear Barry M gloss.

Of course, as Lolly the Grumpy Kitty likes to always be the centre of attention, she wouldn't let me snap my mugshot without trampling all over the keyboard. But she looks uber pretty too, even without makeup :)

What do you think of my gloomy day makeup? What sort of look do you wear when you want to add a bit of colour and cheer to a gloomy day? Doesn't Lolly look gorgeous with her ickle whiskers? =^.^=
Annie x

MAC by Request

After a long wait, the MAC by Request collection has touched down in the UK and we can once again get out hands on some of the most popular discontinued products for a limited time.
Re-released are a collection of three lipsticks; Moxie, Candy Yum Yum and Rocker, three Lipglasses; Bait, Flash of Flesh and Cult of Cherry, and three eyeshadows; Guacamole, Jete and Moth Brown.

Each of these colours is totally gorgeous, and well worth a look. I've ordered Moxie and Candy Yum Yum to add to my lipstick collection because they're both amazing bright pink colours which I would wear constantly. Of course, I'll also pop up reviews when I get them.
You can take a look at the collection *here* and its well worth noting that the range is an online exclusive so don't wait to see it in stores because you won't be lucky.

Are you excited about the new range? Which colours will you be buying?
Annie x

The Lust List, Birthday Edition

I always find that the month leading up to my birthday I'm always wandering around looking for treats that I would love to receive. There isn't really much I need or want this year, I'm pretty contented with all the lovely things I've got, but these are the few bits that I am lusting after.

1. This pretty swallow jumper is actually from Marks and Spencer. Who would have thought it eh? But I tried this on and loved it straight away. I think I may have found my staple piece for autumn!

2. Bobbi Brown is very much one of my makeup inspirations and her books are a great source of beauty knowledge. I've wanted this book for quite a while now, its full of useful information, application tips, suggestions for how to keep you skin looking fab and also tells you a lot about getting into the makeup artistry business.

3. Unlike most beauty bloggers I haven't been particularly interested in the range from Real Techniques as I already have lots of fab makeup brushes that I'm really loyal to. However, I really need a new blush brush so I think its time to jump on the Real Techniques bandwagon.

4. Ahh, MAC lipsticks. I swear there is something just so beautiful about them. The one I'm lusting madly over is Girl About Town from the Amplified selection. Its a gorgeous bright blue toned pink and looks so striking against fair skin.

5. I saw these shoes blogged about a while back and can't remember who by. They're a cheap £12 dupe of a pair of Ted Baker loafers but they're just as pretty as the real thing. I love golden glitter so how could I resist :)

6. Finally is Nicki Minaj's album, Pink Friday Roman Reloaded. I love her style and her voice is amazing, I'm not really sure why I haven't bought this before, but it is very firmly on the list!

And of course who can forget the obligatory little extras such as chocolate, Topshop panties and anything cute/pretty :D

So those are my birthday lusts. Do you have a birthday coming up soon too? Whats on your lust list at the moment? I'll actually be in Mallorca for my birthday so even if I was to get none of the above, I don't care, the day is going to be amazing and I can't wait :)
Annie x

FOTD- Sushi Time!

Hello,
This week has proven to be so stressful so far. On tuesday I ventured over to Bristol for the Benefit recruitment day which was hours of interviewing, learning, makeuping and sell sell selling. I was proud to get through the day as its no secret I have zero confidence when it comes to approaching people and trying to force makeovers on the unsuspecting public was definitely out of my comfort zone. I didn't get offered a job but I was so proud of myself for not running a mile in the opposite direction and hiding amid the slippers or anything else equally as useless :) In all seriousness though, I do need to find a job with more hours than I'm doing now so if anyone knows of any going near Bath/Bristol then do let me know!

This evening is date night. Well, loosely anyway. Daniel and I are going to brave the rain and enjoy a meal at Yo Sushi, making the most of Blue Thursday where every dish on the belt is £2.40 each. Needless to say, this will involve much over excitement and a lot more self restraint than either of us possess so there is likely to be a sushi induced food coma going on later.
As its kind of date night, I thought I should make a bit of effort so here is my makeup for the evening.

I went for a pretty natural look, trying out some of my new bits of makeup and just adding a little colour to my eyelids.
At the moment I am totally obsessed with clear, glowing skin so I spent most time fussing over my cheeks and hiding MONSTER pores around my nose.

I got sent a new Avon eye quad in a swap that I tested out on my eyes, its hard to see in the photos but I've blended purple into brown along the eyelid and then gently flicked it out at the corner. I hardly ever use eyeliner these days, instead I use a small concealer brush to sweep coloured eyeshadow along the lid as it gives a softer colour but where the brush is fairly dense it still gives a good pay off.

What I used:

Face:

• 17 Photo Flawless Face Primer
• Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation
• EsteeLauder Double Wear Concealer
• Natural Collection Loose Powder
• MAC Fleet Fast Powder Blush
• Bourjois Pastel Blush in Lilas D'or
• Lush Feeling Younger Skin Tint

Eyes:

• Sleek Brow Kit in Dark
• Bourjois Eyeshadow 05
• Avon 24K Gleam of Gold quad
• Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara

Lips:

• No 7 Moisture Drench Lipstick in Devine

Phew, big list. Amazing how much you use to create such a soft look eh!

What do you think of todays look? What style have you been favouring lately?

Annie x