Man, I Feel Like A (Zara) Woman

Duh duuh duh duh duh DUH DUH. Yeah I cringed at the title of this post too but my fingers wouldn't let me delete it (bless you Shania Twain). It's been a long time since I bought a product, tried it, and sat my ass down to dedicate a whole post to it. Never mind that, it's been a long time since my last post- editing a magazine and being back at uni has absolutely thrown me!

However, there was a nice sunset and I'm back in my Nottingham house with my lovely white desk (clichéd blogger necessities) and fancied doing a product review and so I did. This is Zara Woman Fruity Eau De Toilette.

Confession 1: I never really buy myself perfume/scent. As a student, I never feel like I can justify blowing my cash on perfume- it feels different to makeup somehow, even though both do just run out- I'm clearly living in ironic denial. 

Confession 2: I'm not a massive Zara fan. Please, I hear your shocked outcries, just let me explain myself: I just feel as though it's a bit... it's like an Instagrammable Primark. The clothes feel cheap and flimsy but the store has a "cool girl" status to it. And there's always an extremely serious-looking security guard posted, as though the clothes are worth thousands? I just don't understand. Anway...

 

I had seen a few bloggers and 'tubers raving about Zara's range of scents. I thought the bottles and the packaging looked super classy for their budget price so I scurried to the back of the store to pick one out. 

I absolutely love the smell of this. It is indeed, quite fruity, but that note dies down and you're left with a sweet but subtle smell. Think more stylishly feminine and "clean" smelling (?) (wow I'm so good at this) than sickly and girly. 

The scent doesn't fade quickly like most either, and instead it sticks around leaving you smelling lovely. Plus I just love the packaging and simplicity of the bottle.

I seriously want to go out and buy all of my friends one of these for their birthdays! I think they'd be great as part of a gift. No, the store itself will never be my favourite, but I will definitely be trying more scents from the Zara range. I don't really know if I'll ever be a "Zara Woman", but I certainly enjoy smelling like one.

Til next time xo

How To Transition Your Beauty Products From Summer To Autumn

So I've done autumn nails, autumn fashion...and finally, autumn beauty. I'll lay off the seasonal theme after this post, I promise, but I wanted to talk about how I'm currently switching up my products now that we've said goodbye to summer. 

1. Foundation. For me it's always essential I get a new foundation after summer. I'm naturally very pale but I love fake tanning when the sun comes out so I have to use a darker foundation. Once I stop this process, I'm always shocked at how quickly my darker foundation starts to look an unsightly shade of orange on me! Not a good look. Revlon Colorstay is my favourite foundation ever, and I know that the shade Buff will suit me all through my paler months. I love the fact this foundation has skin type suitability: I have oily skin and although my skin is drier right now than it is in the summer, this foundation for Oily/Combination skin still works for me. I moisturise well beforehand to avoid it settling in any dry patches.

2. Eyes. In the summer I rarely wear any shadows other than bronze/gold/brown tones, and this time round I also avoided liquid liner completely. I feel as though the classic wing (that I love, don't get me wrong) looks a little too much during the daytime in summer. I stuck with mascara and soft brown liner this year round, but I feel as though it's finally time to get the wings back in place. This No7 Stay Perfect Liquid Liner is sensational. I reviewed it here. I'm also ready for darker shadows, particularly purples: featured in the picture above is MAC Shale.

3. Moisturise. I'm lucky in that I don't suffer from dry skin all that much, so using body lotion is usually pretty low on my list of things to do. However, when it gets colder I do like to use this Clarins lotion. I use it as a hand cream as well- my hands really do suffer in the winter- and it's a great lotion to keep skin feeling soft even when it's cold out. It's not too sticky, absorbs quickly and smells super fresh and clean.

4. Lip care. My lips are already prone to getting dry and cracked and we've barely spent a minute in September (or so it seems). I find that I'm pretty much using this Lush Lip Scrub daily and going to bed with layers of Vaseline on. The combination seems to work quite well, particularly if I use the Vaseline sparingly throughout the day- otherwise I find my lips become worse for depending on it. Dry lips are a pain but drinking lots of water is also meant to help. I would love to know your tips on keeping them at bay!

5. Lipstick. Reds, plums, purples, berries...I am so ready for Autumn lipstick! I know that matte lips are all the rage, but I like to avoid anything matte during the winter (as I have just explained!) I tend to look for shiny, moisturising lipsticks with great pigment. This Clinique Lasting Finish in Berry Freeze is an all time favourite.

How are you transitioning into autumn beauty-wise? Let me know! xo

My Favourite Nail Polishes For Autumn

'Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.' The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

If you haven't yet wiped off your electric blue nail varnish and replaced it with a vampish oxblood, it's time to take ol'Fitzy's advice and embrace the crisp newness that comes with the best season of all. Yes, of course he intended that line to be applied to nail varnish choices! (I just really love Gatsby and this particular quote- I can't help but think of it whenever the season is mentioned, so it had to feature). Hello Autumn nails!

As you can see, there's a bit of a theme with my seasonal picks... dark and moody with a little bit of glitter and a heavy dose of purple. All of my favourite things! Make sure you check out the names of the polishes mentioned: I think some of them suit the season so well.

From left to right...

Barry M Nail Paint- Vintage Violet
This shade seems to be very 'in' right now. I keep seeing this gentle mauve for lips, eyes and nails on Instagram (therefore it must be trend, right?) It's not too vampy, so a great shade for the autumn transition time.

Revlon Nail Enamel-Vixen
One of my all time favourite nail polishes- as you can see, the bottle is looking rather well loved! Vixen is the perfect oxblood shade and I honestly think everyone should own it. Revlon enamels are some of the best; this stuff has a beautiful finish.

Maybelline Colour Show 'Brocades'- Woven Skyline
I had to have a little bit of sparkle in my picks. I rarely wear glitter nail varnish at the start of the year, but in my mind post-summer = the run-up to Christmas = the arrival of sparkly nails. Yeah, I'm one of those people. This blend of gold and black flecks is still a super sophisticated choice. Save the red sparkle for December (I'm as excited as you are, my Christmas lovers).

Makeup Gallery Nail Colour- Mushroom Magic
This lil beauty of a shade is spot on for Autumn. This colour comes out a beautiful deep chestnut. It's from Poundland's own makeup line (pretty random I know)- trust me when I say it will pleasantly surprise you!

No7 Stay Perfect- Grey Skies
People always look at my strangely when I tell them that grey is my favourite colour. I certainly prefer a pale grey but this 'angry sky' kinda grey is very fitting for the season. Grey nails go with everything and look beautiful around this time of year.

Let me know what your favourite hues are for the season. I'm currently on the hunt for a burnt orange to add to this collection. I'm so glad Autumn is here! xo

Cleansing Lotion VS Micellar Water

I feel a bit sorry for makeup wipes at the minute. According to skincare experts/snobs/whatever you choose to call them, wipes are 'oh-so-out'...or something to that degree. They have essentially been proven to smear makeup/dirt around your face and dry out your skin in the process. I really don't want to be a skincare snob, but I must admit- I hate that 'tacky' feeling left after using a makeup wipe- how people sleep easy after just 'removing' makeup with a wipe is beyond me!

Enough talk of makeup wipes! (gosh, they're 'out'. remember?) These lotions and waters claim to do the entire job so you don't have to slave away washing your face, but I really wouldn't trust myself to remove all my makeup with just a cotton pad. Washing away the grime of the day now ought to be done via a bottle- if we're following 'trends'- but please, this girl's gotta make sure her face is properly clean.  

So today I'm putting these two Garnier cleansers to the test: the Micellar Water and the Fresh Cleansing Lotion. I'm judging them on how well they remove makeup and how they make your skin feel post removal. Would I ever trust myself to use these alone and not cleanse my face afterwards? Let's see shall we...

Micellar Water

The hot product of the year, Micellar Water contains molecules that capture and lift dirt away from the skin. I tried to research the science behind it since I still wasn't sure and Google threw 'an aggregate of surfactant molecules dispersed in a liquid colloid' at me. Thank you for nothing Google old pal. Lab Muffin has done a great post on the science here if you want to know more- it's interesting, but it's throwing me back to my Chemistry GCSE knowledge and I've recycled most of that for other, less intelligent purposes. So anyways...

Claims: Cleanses and removes makeup in one easy step. Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin.

Smells: Like nothing, really. Maybe a little bit soapy. Maybe that's me wishfully thinking it's gonna do some real cleansing. 

On the skin it feels literally like water. I guess the main ingredient in this bottle is water, so it's not surprising! 

Does it remove makeup? Urm...hell yes! I'm so impressed. There's absolutely no pressure required on the skin- no tugging over the eyes to remove mascara either, with is such a nice change and super helpful seeing as the skin around our eyes is so delicate and needs extra lovin. A little goes a reasonably long way as well.

After cleansing, skin feels smooth and pretty clean. I do still want to wash my face but I can totally see how some people would be happy just to moisturise and get their beauty sleep. After cleansing with water however, I can definitely tell that my skin still feels super soft.

Verdict: Love! Works like magic. See below on liquid liner, lipstick and concealer.

Cleansing Lotion

This Start Afresh Cleansing Lotion is a more traditional method of makeup removal. Its has the texture of a cream lotion and is enriched with Lotus flower and Moringa extract.

Claims: Removes makeup and refreshes skin in one easy step. Non-greasy and suitable for normal-combination skin, as well as being gentle on sensitive skin. However, it then says on the back that it's also suitable for dry skin. Hmm?

Smells: Lovely! I'm a sucker for a scented product, I can't lie. It smells faintly floral but in a fresh way. I want a perfume that smells like this lotion!

On the skin it feels like applying a mixture of a lotion and a moisturiser. A bit strange but not unpleasant at all.

Does it remove makeup? I love this product for removing 'base' makeup. Foundation seems to melt away quickly and easily. Eye makeup however is a bit more tricky and requires some work. It also leaves smears and I'm still not so sure about the sensation of rubbing lotion over my eyes!

After cleansing, skin feels soft and smooth but there is still makeup left on the skin. I like my skin to feel properly clean, not as though a product is attempting to moisturise when it isn't a moisturiser! The aforementioned skin-suitability confusion might have something to do with this. People with dry skin might like this product as it definitely leaves some moisture... but I definitely feel like I have to wash my face after removing makeup with this. 

Verdict: Love the smell and how it works on base products, but as you can see below, it tends to do a bit more smearing than cleaning, especially when it comes to eye makeup. It's not awful by any means, but the results aren't as good as Micellar!

I really do rate both of these products- so much more than any kind of makeup wipes I've ever tried- but Micellar Water is definitely the winner! 

Let me know if you agree and what your favourite methods of makeup removal/cleansing are. Do you know of anything that beats this magic water?

Til next time xo

Scent City Perfume Review

I love trying new perfumes- life's too short for just one signature scent, right? When Scent City kindly offered to send me some samples of their Urbanites fragrances*, I was totally up for it! I'm no perfume expert and obviously scent preferences are totally subjective, but I've reviewed these as honestly as I can.

Scent City's Urbanites collection features some seriously niche brands that create beautiful luxury scents. I chose to sample Hedonist by Viktoria Minya and Annabelle by Shelley Kyle. They also included 1876 by Histoires De Parfums.

Hedonist / Viktoria Minya
The first perfume I tried and the first one I want to talk about is Hedonist, my absolute favourite of the scents I received. This perfume is seriously sexy. It reminds me of Black XS by Paco Rabanne, which is a fragrance that I love. Hedonist smells dark and luxurious though it still feels sweet enough to wear every day. It features jasmine and orange notes alongside the dark intensity of rum and tobacco... if that's not niche then I don't know what is! Can I get a full bottle asap please?

Annabelle / Shelley Kyle

I realise that summer is coming to a close, but if you want to be transported back to blue skies...right this way! This is a crisp, clean scent that seriously reminds me of summer mornings. It's slightly floral as well which is a nice touch, featuring wild lily and honeysuckle. I don't think I'd wear this all year round- it's a little too 'pretty' for me- but in the spring and summer this would be gorgeous. The full sized bottle also looks absolutely beautiful!

1876 / Histoires De Parfums
This scent is a blend of Moldavian rose, cinnamon and sandalwood. Its very dark and almost smells spicy, so it's a pretty acquired taste: if you like deep, cologne-esque perfumes then you will love this, but it wasn't really for me.

I may not have loved all of the fragrances I tried, but I'm a massive fan of Hedonist, Scent City and all its design details. I love how each perfume is categorised and described in such depth. It's also nice to see a myriad of fragrance brands that I had never even heard of before. Be sure to check out Scent City here if you fancy the sound of any of these!

Do you have any niche perfume favourites? Let me know! Til next time xo

* The products reviewed in this post were a gift from the brand or company mentioned, however all opinions are my own and I always review honestly.

Boots No7 Haul: 6 Products For £10!

Boots No7 is currently celebrating its 80th birthday! If you buy two products then you receive a free gift box containing three items and also a free lipstick courtesy of their colour match service. I managed to use the coupon given out in Boots to get money off in No7, so I will have ended up getting six products for around £10, which is ridiculous! I've done the calculations further down, but essentially this equates to £50 worth of products. There's quite a bit to get through, so here's what I got and my thoughts on it all!

The items I bought:
Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Me Me Me 
This colour is my favourite shade of pink. I love vibrant hot pinks all year round and this one seriously caught my eye. I've tried the No7 Stay Perfect polishes before and think the finish is brilliant. The colour always ends up super opaque and really does stay perfect for a good four days at least.

Stay Precise Liquid Liner in Black
Oh my gosh...this liner is incredible! The brush seems to guide you to the perfect fleeky flick. The formula is super opaque and even when you can feel a bad liner day coming on, this product ensures that there's very little room for mistakes.

In the 80th Anniversary gift box: (free when you buy two items) 
Skin Illuminator 
As you may know if you read my blog regularly, I am obsessed with highlighter. I love the stuff. Even with oily skin, I cannot get enough of strobing up my face til it looks like a Christmas tree (just lesss...green.) You can imagine my excitement when I saw this! It's light and blendable which I really like, but I personally find it a little too shimmery. I had never tried a liquid highlighter in a peach tone before- whilst I would have loved this with my tan over summer, I'm back to being ghostly pale so it doesn't suit me too well. I think the colour of this highlighter would suit darker skin tones so beautifully. Add this to your collection if you have olive-dark skin my strobing sisters!

Intense Volume Mascara
I had tried No7 mascaras before and not liked them, but this one is rather nice. It is definitely a volumising mascara and gives you little in terms of length and curl (what I usually opt for) but it was certainly a nice change to try out something a bit more dramatic. I won't be using it every day but I will definitely reach for it when I want seriously intense lashes.

Stay Perfect Eye Shadow in Forest Fruits
No7 eyeshadows are so incredible for the price. I have tried many of their palettes before and lots of them have a deep purple shade included- must be their thang. The pigment is excellent and I really like this colour. I would probably have preferred something a little more wearable but hey, it's still pretty. If you use a very small amount on your brush and really blend, it's a lot more subtle.

My Colour Match Lipstick Of Choice:

So finally, on top of all the products mentioned, I went and picked out a Stay Perfect lipstick to add to my growing collection. The colour I chose is Brick Red (605) after finding out my skin classes as 'Cool Ivory' at No7. I must say, this shade does really suit me! It's a gorgeous lipstick as well: matte and seriously pigmented. It lasts all day! I love the No7 lipsticks for classic, wearable shades. I would love to see them branch out a bit and offer some colours that aren't just mid range pinks/reds but I'm still super happy with every lipstick I've ever bought there. 

        

Though some of these products are half sizes (the mascara and the highlighter), this is how much all this would have been at full price:

Nail Polish: £6.00

Liner: £7.50

Highlighter: £11.00

Mascara: £9.95

Eyeshadow: £7.00

Lipstick: £9.95

= £51.40

£50 worth of products for £10 is pretty darn good. I must say, the brand have really upped their game recently. I used to think it was 'the makeup line for your mum' - sorry, fans - but I absolutely rate the quality, range and style of their products at the minute. 

If you want a good handful of great items for a ridiculously cheap price, go and check out what's new at No7. Thanks for reading xo

My Favourite Prepping Products For Shine-Free Skin

If you have oily skin then you'll know that getting a shine-free finish to your face can be a struggle. I rarely want skin that looks totally matte, but if not prepped properly then within a few hours my face becomes a shiny mess.

About a month ago I talked about my summer skincare for combo/oily skin which seemed to go down really well. Oily skin is something many of us deal with all year round so I thought I would do a post on my ultimate favourite products to prepare skin that's prone to oiliness. I like to ensure the products I use before my makeup are going to give me a head start and give my skin a more normal finish... then I can amp up the highlight with no worries! I also hate loading up my face with powder: I've found that using this super affordable dream team trio means that I don't have to.

Note: All the prices included are for the full price products, but the Botanics range very often has great deals on.

Warning: There may be some hyperbolic raving in this post seeing as I am totally obsessed with these products.

Cleanser 
Botanics All Bright Foaming Cleanser (£3.99)
I actually reviewed this product a few months back, but I honestly don't think I will ever use another cleanser again.

It's suitable for all skin types but I find it to be perfect for oily skin. It's a cleanser that properly cleanses (so many popular brands just skim the surface) without stripping your skin and leaving it tight and uncomfortable.

It's perfect in the mornings to give you an oil-free start and it's the best product in the evenings for removing all your makeup. I don't even need to take my makeup off with a face wipe: this cleanser makes everything melt away!

It's also a brightening product, which is great as it makes your skin look super perky without adding any excess moisture.

Moisturiser 
Botanics Mattifying Shine Away Gel Cream (£4.99)
As I mentioned in my summer skincare post, it's so important to moisturise even if your skin is oily. If you skip this step then your skin will overcompensate by producing more oil! Nevertheless, no one with oily skin wants to feel greasy after applying moisturiser.

I've tried a few mattifying moisturisers in my time but nothing beats this one. It doesn't say moisturiser in the name but it does in fact 'balance hydration with lasting shine control': it's a product with the texture of a serum, but it certainly doesn't act like your regular stuff. It sinks into your skin really quickly and leaves absolutely no sense of greasiness behind- instead you have a perfectly smooth, matte base. It's amazing how this product balances everything out so well.

To add to my praise of this product, it also does some more hard work for you in terms of the quality of your skin. It contains Willowbark, a natural source of salicylic acid- the ingredient you should be looking for if your skin is prone to breakouts. Seeing as oily skin is often problematic as well, this product is brilliant for helping to heal imperfections. I'm so glad I found it!

Primer
Rimmel Stay Matte Primer (£5.99)
Only as I'm writing this up have I noticed that this primer says 'use alone, under or over makeup'- Over??? I'm so confused. I don't think that's the best method but whatever works for you I guess!

Anyway. This primer is excellent if keeping shine at bay is your goal. For me, this primer doesn't really make my pores appear smaller but it certainly keeps my makeup looking better for longer.

I particularly like the way this primer makes bare skin look. If you have dry skin then you really want to avoid this, but it immediately takes any shine away from oily skin.

It has an air brushing effect on shine and imperfections- not totally, of course- but it makes my skin look so much better! It does however have a little bit of a residue, so it can make my already pale skin look pasty white: I personally don't mind this at all seeing as I'll usually be applying bronzer or foundation anyway, but just a little heads up!


That's all folks! I hope this was helpful to anyone wanting to get a mattifying start to their makeup routine. If you've tried any of these products or have any alternative recommendations, I would absolutely love to know about them! Til next time xo

#MOTD: So Long Summer

Summer feels like a distant memory with the constant grey cloud we've been having in the UK (what a surprise.) If you're somewhere the sun still shines then you're probably not feeling Autumnal quite yet, but I am so ready for the new season. It's my favourite: the return of scarves and boots is such a welcome one! As the temperature has gotten cooler I've lost any motivation to maintain the tan I had been so desperate to cling on to... so I'm going pale and Autumnal with this look today.

Foundation: Revlon Colorstay (in Ivory)

Concealer: Rimmel Wake Me Up 

Highlight: L.A Girl Pro Conceal (in Classic Ivory) and Benefit High Beam

Contour: Laroc Contour Palette set with Benefit Hoola Bronzer

Brows: MUA Pro Brow Kit and Rimmel Gel Liner (in Copper)

Shadow: Urban Decay (Buck, Half Baked and Hustle)

Liner: Revolution Liquid Liner

Mascara: Max Factor 2000 Calorie

Lipstick: Rimmel Lasting Finish (in Starry-Eyed)

I must give a shout-out the to Rimmel gel liner that is seriously giving my brows some fleekness at the minute (apologies, haters of the word.) I used to only use powder products on my brows, but I find that a little gel used sparingly really adds some definition if I focus it on the ends. I'm personally a lover of the 'Instagram brow' (slightly ombre, from centre to outer, with definition focused on the lower part of the brow.) I find that solid opaque brows look unnatural and unflattering, so this product is helping me (almost!) get the brows I want.

I hope you like this look. I made a lil makeup mistake and forgot blusher- which is bad for me because my face looks so thin without it! Nevertheless, berry purple lips are my absolute favourite. Let me know if you're feeling in the Autumn spirit already- and what are your favourite Autumn makeup looks?

If you're not already, follow me on Instagram (@gettingtonomi) for updates, nice things and obviously, selfies xo 

My Favourite Everyday Mascara

I had been looking for a mascara for everyday use that guaranteed a perfect application every time. Whilst I'm a strong advocate of Benefit's Roller Lash, I also find it to be one of those mascaras that you have to work at a bit to get perfect: a little too much and your lashes turn into a spidery mess. Without a doubt, I found what I was looking for!

This is Max Factor 2000 Calorie Mascara in the shade Black/Brown. 

I'm just going to go right in and start singing its praises!

- Black/Brown I hear you question? I actually love the fact that this mascara comes in a shade between the two. Brown mascaras often just don't quite cut it on the intensity front, so this really deep brown shade makes a great everyday colour that is still going to enhance your lashes.

- This product claims to give you 300% more volume  (?) (I didn't listen much in maths but I swear that isn't even possible) and also stay smudge-proof. I can confirm that it absolutely doesn't budge once it's on (it dries super quickly.) I find it to be much less dramatic than the hyperbolic '2000 Calorie' title, but it certainly does add volume and lift.

- The effect of this mascara is perfectly separated lashes that look thick and fluttery. It also looks great on both top and bottom lashes. I know this is extremely first world problems, but I know I'm not alone in the opinion that not every great mascara looks good on the bottom lashes as well (again, Roller Lash: gorgeous on the top and a little spidery on the bottom.)

Let me know if you're fan of this! And what are you favourite 'everyday' mascaras? xo

Recent BeneBuys

It feels like a very long time since I last did a beauty-related post, so it only felt right to get back to it with a roundup of recent purchases from my favourite makeup store. I love Benefit products- they're always coming out with new things, it's all packaged beautifully and everything I've tried (apart from their narrow spectrum of foundation shades) has been a success. Here's what I've purchased from them recently!

 Products mentioned:

High Beam Highlighter 

Ultra Plush Hoola Lipgloss 

Ultra Plush Coralista Lipgloss

Roller Lash Mascara

High Beam

This highlighter is one of my essentials. The pink undertone means that it's suited to pale skin which is ideal for me considering that lots of highlighters are gold-toned and just seem to show up like a glittery streak of warpaint on my skin. I prefer liquid highlighters as they're so easy to blend into the skin for a glow that appears a lot more seamless. High Beam is the perfect amount of soft shimmer and I pretty much use it every day.

Lip glosses in Hoola and Coralista

I'm not a massive lip gloss fan but I've been trying to get into it over the summer. These two glosses are half sizes but both shades in full size are reduced on the store's site at the moment.

Both of these shades are very sheer- Hoola is a nude with gold shimmer and Coralista is a hot coral. They're very easy to wear seeing as they're so 'barely there', but I also feel like you should get a bit more pigment for a gloss that usually retails for £15. Nevertheless, one thing I do love about Benefit glosses is that they taste so good!

Hoola

Coralista

Roller Lash

I must finally mention the Queen of Mascaras. Roller Lash has taken the beauty world by storm since it was released earlier this year, making repurchasing a must! I did a review of it when it first came out over here if you want to know more. 

What have you been loving from Benefit at the moment? Any recommendations? I would love to know in the comments! xo

Try The Trend: Brown Lip Look

Brown lipstick- in varying shades- seems to be big this year. After relentless "Kylie Jenner" pinks it's quite nice to see an unusual trend emerging! I've seen this done many ways- from really dark to a verging-on-nude shade (think MAC Stone liner) though I find that the slightly darker end of the spectrum suits me better. This look may feel kind of scary at first but it has quickly become one of my favourites. Here's my attempt at the trying the trend!

Products used:

Rimmel Lasting Finish Liner in Cappuccino

MUA Lipstick in Bare
(Obviously you don't have to use these exact products!)

I love this liner! Yes, it is quite dark, but it's easy to blend and looks brilliant when paired with a nude lipstick. It's a perfect mid brown and it wears well, so I definitely recommend it. I like to fill in two thirds of my lip with this. After lining and filling I blend the colour out with a lip brush or cotton bud to ensure it isn't too harsh.

I then like to use a nude lipstick to fill into the centre of my lips. This is MUA Bare. I also love Clinique Perfect Beige for this look but my one is rather old and not fit to be photographed! (but this is a really affordable lipstick of the same hue.) Finally I like to add a little bit of powder to my lips (lightly, with a fluffy brush) in order to set it. If you own a matte nude then this step isn't necessary but I do think a little powder lifts the darkness and creates a really soft tone to the overall look. I'm always lightly setting my lipstick with powder seeing as I'm not a massive fan of matte lipsticks!

I think this is a look that anyone can wear. It can be a little vampy so if you want to steer clear of that then keep the rest of your makeup light. I personally like this lip with a matte bronzer and a 'greasy' gold/brown shadow.

What are your thoughts on the brown lip trend? Let me know below! xo

Summer Skincare For Combination/Oily Skin

For me, summer skincare is all about improving the quality of my skin tone and controlling the shine that inevitably arrives with warmer weather.

For reference, my skin is:
Combination/Oily
Generally clear but very prone to hormonal breakouts
Sensitive and therefore prone to looking pink/uneven

Despite all this, I still think that it's nice to let your skin breathe in the summer- either by skipping the foundation or leaning towards something lighter- so I have found a few products that are really evening out the tone/texture of my skin and at the same time keeping oil at bay in preparation for either breathing free or creating a great makeup base. Here they are in the order that I use them!

Witch Oil Control Cleanser- Summer heat can wreak havoc with combo/oily skin. I get shiny quickly if my makeup isn't prepped and set properly when the sun is out. I rarely want a heavy base on in the heat so using this cleanser really helps to control my skin's oil production in the first place. Its effect is gentle, so if you want a subtle 'matte' effect from the very beginning of your routine, this is great (it's not going to dry you out I promise.) Oily skin that's going to be prepped properly (moisturised!) needs this head start.

Avene Eau Thermale- I'm addicted to this water (yes, it is just water...but some really nice water) After cleansing my skin I spritz this all over my face. It calms any redness in my skin and leaves my face soothed ready for moisturiser. I did a full post on this 'Holy Water' here if you want to learn more. 

Avene Eau Thermale Moisturiser- If you're oily then you might be tempted to skip moisturiser- especially in the summer when there's no harsh winter air to dry you out around the T-zone- but all skin needs to be moisturised. If you skip this step then your skin will overcompensate for the moisture it lacks by producing even more oil. To combat shine, look for a mosturiser like this one that's oil-free. This cream is suitable for oilier skin: it calms and leaves my face feeling well nourished but not greasy. It also seems to have a calming effect on my sensitive skin (this range is brilliant for skin with a tendency to flare up.) With an SPF of 20, this is the perfect formulation for protected summer skin that looks even and feels smooth.

Garnier Ultralift- This is a heavy cream and probably not best suited to most combo/oily people in the day time. However... I thought I'd drop this in since I've been loving the way this has improved my skin's appearance, which is a great perk in the summer when it's nice to go makeup-free. It claims it improves fine lines- and whilst I have 'young' skin, this has really helped my frown lines! (I really need to learn to relax my brow...)

Garnier Fresh Cleansing Lotion- This is a product perfect for all skin types, but I love the way this lotion works to remove makeup at the end of the day. Applied to a cotton pad, this removes everything and leaves you skin soft unlike face wipes that can often dry out even the more oilier skin types.

Do you share my skin type or use any of these products? I'd love to read your recommendations below! xo

Review: Mary Kay True Dimensions Lipstick

Before I got my hands on these, my knowledge of US brand Mary Kay was pretty much limited to the mention in Kacey Musgraves' song, 'Merry Go Round.' Her mama's hooked on it though...so there's gotta be something to it! From what I can gather, the brand is kind of mid-range (MAC-esque) and pretty popular (correct me, US readers, if I am wrong.) These new shades of their True Dimensions lipsticks are recent releases and retail at £14 here in the UK: here's what I thought of the two shades I tried. 

Packaging The look of these lipsticks is really stunning. They come in individual boxes that look sleek and professional. The casing of the product itself is the most interesting thing. The lids come all the way down the bullet and open by clicking and pushing the top window of the lipstick. Interesting, but I can see myself getting frustrated when I try to put my lipstick on in a rush and realise they don't function the same way as the rest of the lipstick world!

Product

Barely Nude- A pink-toned nude

Tangerine Pop- A coral-toned orange 

(Both contain some shimmer)

The formula of the True Dimensions lipsticks is infused with sunflower seed oil, jojoba and mango butter to help keep lips smooth, along with vitamin E to help protect lips from free radicals and environmental damage. This therefore means that they're incredibly creamy and sit somewhere between a gloss and a lipstick. As you can see below...the effect is amazing. These make a perfect everyday lipstick, especially for summer- the sheen finish makes them extremely wearable.

Downsides? The smell of these isn't the best. They smell and taste quite 'waxy.' I'm pretty sure they're rose-scented, so if that floats your boat you'll be fine. If not, well, you may just find that they look so good on that the smell/taste is a non-issue (that's my attitude!)

Despite the slight downside to this product, I think the finish is amazing and very wearable. Would I rather have a MAC lipstick for £2 more? Yes. However, these lipsticks are incredibly pretty and I will definitely be getting some serious use out of them this summer. 

What's your experience with Mary Kay? Let me know if you like the sound of these lipsticks! xo