Ultimate Summer Pink Lipsticks

When it comes to Spring/Summer, I do love wearing my favourite nude lip products but it's also a great opportunity to bring out the brighter pinks and corals and rock them during the day. There's two products in particular that I always find myself reaching for when I'm looking for that pop of colour and they are to me, the ultimate lipsticks. 

This was one of the first bold lipsticks I ever bought and it was one that I bought because I thought the shade was pretty but I never actually thought I'd wear it. That being said, I have gotten quite a bit of wear out of it this year in particular and it is the shade Flat Out Fabulous by Mac. This is a retro matte shade and it's basically a super intense bright with probably one of the most matte formulas I've ever come across, without being too unbelievably drying on the lips. I do always like to apply a lip balm beforehand with this one as it can become slightly uncomfortable throughout the day because it is so matte but it definitely doesn't come anywhere near as drying as the likes of Ruby Woo. 

A lip product that is practically the same shade as Flat Out Fabulous but a completely different formula is Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in Pink Pong. Now though this is also a matte, it applies super glossy and almost like a lip gloss. It does however then dry extremely matte and provides the same sort of finish, minus any of the dryness you get from a full matte lipstick. This is probably the most long lasting of the two in terms of the colour, it stays vibrant and matte for practically the whole day and then you're left with a nice wearable stain afterwards, whereas the Mac lipstick does begin to settle into the lines of the lips and can sometimes look questionable mid-way through the day.

If you are looking for a bold shade for the season then I'd definitely recommend you pick up one (or both) of these products. Both are super matte, so very long wearing and the formulas feel super comfortable to wear. They are also cool toned pinks so they make your teeth look exceptionally whiter and will suit pretty much all skinniness in my opinion. 

Summer Nails Edit | Beauty

Summer came shining in (pun well and truly intended) at the weekend and I just love this time of year because it means I can break out some of my 'reserved solely for summer' nail polishes. Now I do mix up my nail colour a lot all year round but in the Autumn/Winter months darker, berry hues are what I reach for most so now summer is here, I'm finally able to reach for the bolder, almost neon shades and of course, pastels.

As mentioned, I'm really loving pastel shades at the moment as they give my nails a much softer, more girly look that is perfect for the warmer months. Two of my favourites have been from the Rita Ora for Rimmel collection in the shades Pillow Talk - a pale powder blue - and Lose Your Lingerie - a soft pearly pink. both of these shades have a slight shimmer to them in the bottle but this doesn't really translate on the nails, which I'm quite happy about. They are the perfect pastel shades in my eyes and the formula is also really great, they have a large brush for easy application and I find they become opaque after just two coats.

Sticking along the pastel lines (sort of), I've also been really enjoy the L'Oreal Color Riche nail polishes, in particular the shade Lemon Meringue, which as the name would suggest, is a pale, almost white lemon colour. This ones great if you want a more subtle n ail colour. I also really like the Barry M Gelly Hi-Shine polishes as I love my nails to be as shiny as possible. The pastel shade I like is Prickly Pear, a slightly darker than pastel, lilac shade. I'm really wanting to try the new spring/summer collection though, there's so many lovely pastels. Again, these both have a wide brush and also only require two coats.

Also from Barry M, I've found myself reaching for a bolder shade, Guava, if I'm feel like pastels just aren't cutting it. I love how this applies and the shade is so bold that it really stands out. I always get so many compliments when I wear this nail polish. Last, but certainly not least, is an old favourite, Models Own Beach Party from the Hed Kandi range. This was a huge favourite of mine last year and it's back this year, it's one of those shades that unfortunately is only reserved for summer due to its neon brightness. And when I say neon, I mean get out the sunglasses, neon! The only issue I have with this polish is that it dries semi-matte so does require a good topcoat, a step that I try to avoid if I can!

So they are all my summer nail polish picks. I think I'm off to paint my nails in Beach Party now as it's a beautiful sunny day outside. What are your favourite summer nail shades? Do you go bold or pastel?

Spring/Summer Lips | Beauty

The weather seems to be turning around as of late and it has been rather sunny in the UK amidst all the rain that is to be expected all year round here. Because of this, I've been digging through my make-up stash for my favourite spring/summer lipstick shades, as well as a lip balm (or two) to help combat the dreaded chapped lips that I seem to get in both winter and summer!

To start with, I've been reaching for my favourite scrub, LUSH Bubblegum Lip Scrub. It smells divine and it really works well for my lips to get rid of any dry patches. Plus it tastes good too! I've had this little pot now for maybe a year (do lip scrubs even have an expiry date?!) and it's still going strong and works perfectly at night or just after a shower. Alongside a lip scrub, I'll sometimes use a regular lip balm and my favourites at the moment: Korres Lip Butter in Jasmine and Dior Creme de Rose. I've tried plenty of lip balms in my time and these two are definitely the best for me personally, they both work to smooth my lips right before applying my lipstick/gloss of choice.

Following what I like to call the 'lip prep stage', I then apply my favourite lip product of the moment and lately I've been switching between three. The first is my favourite nude and it's the very popular L'Oreal Collection Privee lipstick in Cheryl's Nude. This is the perfect nude for me, even though I don't feel I have the same skin tone as Cheryl Cole whatsoever. Either way, the formula is just so creamy and the colour is great for everyday wear and it's quite subtle. I even like the old school play-doh smell that these lipsticks have, is that weird? Next is a higher end option, but again, a very wearable everyday shade and it's YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in number 13. First lets address the obvious, isn't YSL packaging just to die for, it looks and feels so luxurious and the lipstick itself really reflects this. This is a much pinker shade and although it;'s from the shine range, the colour pay-off is great. I've been reaching for this a lot over the past few weeks.

The final lip product is the boldest of the lot and one that was very much out of my comfort zone before I bought it and it is Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in 06 Pink Pong. This is one of those lip products that definitely requires super smooth lips beforehand so that's where the scrub will work wonders. I just love the colour of this lip product and the lasting power is incredible, it does not budge at all! It's also a matte finish, which worried me at first but it's not drying in the slightest. These lip creams (is that what you'd call them?) are definitely worth checking out, even despite the very limited shade range.