The Best Matte Red Lipstick

If you're trying to find the perfect red lipstick that is matte but not drying, red but not too TOWIE-like, look no further. MAC's Russian Red has been my go-to lipstick for as long as I can remember, which is why I'm surprised I haven't done a full review of it on my blog!

One swipe of this lipstick and you're seriously good to go. It is so extremely pigmented that you only need one tiny sweep of it and it'll last all day. Because it has blue undertones, it also has the teeth-whitening effect. You really do need a lot of patience and time to put this on because it is incredibly staining if you get in the wrong place! I use a Real Techniques detail brush to get a fine defined line as it's quite difficult to apply and not have it smudge everywhere. I'd definitely recommend the Cherry lip pencil, again from MAC to just make the line of your lip defined and precise and also to act as a base to make it stay putt for longer. As for staying power, I've found it to last around a good 4-5 hours before I need to reapply.

Overall, I would really recommend this to anyone looking for the ultimate bright red. It's a timeless intense blue-toned red, and would really suit just about everyone.  I can almost guarantee that if you wore this out, you'd get at least one comment on how amazing it looks.

What's your favourite red lipstick?

If I Could Only Chose One...

Being a beauty blog reader for three years comes with a shopping list the length of your arm. Over my past few two years of blogging myself I've built quite the makeup collection, tried many brands and naturally, I've chosen my favourites. Whilst I was in the bath last weekend (all great ideas come from the bath), I wondered which my favourites are from each brand; drugstore and high-end. I've been thinking about which products over the past few days and it's really a hard decision but these are what I've chosen. If you'd like more than a little snippet of the products, mentioned here, there's full reviews in my Directory!


ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS  This is a fairly new brand to me but I tend to find myself steering to their Dip Brow Pomade on an everyday basis.

BENEFIT  The Porefessional. One of the only primers that have actually worked to fill in my huge pores. The only downside is how it's so expensive but I suppose you get what you pay for!

BOURJOIS  I couldn't get a favourites post done without mentioning the Rouge Edition Velvets. I have three in my collection now and my favourite is Peach Club. The thing I love most about these are the formulas. They're easy to apply, long lasting & comfortable to wear.

COLLECTION  Many people expect the Lasting Perfection concealer here but in fact, my favourite Collection product is their Extreme 24 Hour Felt Tip liner. It's the only felt tip liner that is the darkest black colour and hasn't dried out!

MAC  How could a makeup collection be complete without Russian Red? I'm yet to find a more suiting red than this and I bought this over 2 years ago. I wouldn't be without it!

REAL TECHNIQUES  This was the hardest decision to make because I have almost every RT brush and use them all on a daily basis. I went for the Buffing Brush as it makes my foundation glide on like a dream!

What would you chose from these brands?

Benefit Porefessional Primer Review

I've mentioned before that I'm not a huge collector of primers; not because I don't like the way they work on my skin but because I think I've already found the perfect one for me. Just like my Collection concealer, I don't feel like I have to buy any more of that specific product because I have one that is perfect for me. I bought Benefit's Porefessional primer over a year ago and one tube has lasted all that time, just because I save it for special occasions!

I have very large pores around my nose and this seems the only thing that can control them & reduce their appearance. It also makes my foundation apply much more smoothly and it feels like an extra layer to even out my skin before I apply the rest of my makeup. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the consistency when I apply it with my fingers. It feels almost greasy/slippery but on the skin it feels like a balm, which I don't mind. For the results it gives, that doesn't bother me.

As I mentioned before, I tend to use this on special occasions because it's so expensive for such a small amount of product. It does give amazing results and completely transforms my makeup when I wear it!

Do you use a primer? Which is your favourite?

Best Brow Duo

It's been well documented on this blog that my brows are the bane of my life. Over the years we've had quite the love-hate relationship, which started back when I was 11 and I shaved beneath them (which to this day still haunts me). Since then I like to think we get along much better, thanks to this handy duo.

A brand that think screams the Queen of Brows is Anastasia Beverly Hills. I got their Dip Brow Pomade back in December and I haven't been a day without it since. It took a while for me to get used to working with a gel formula for my brows but now I'm fully converted. I love using the liner end of my Laura Geller double ended eye shadow brush because I find the shape perfect for making them nice and defined. A little trick I've found when it comes to using this product is that taking some of the pomade out of the tub and putting it on the lid makes sure you don't use too much, leaving you with clown brows.

When it comes to the pomade itself, as far as smudginess, not sliding and the end result, everything is spot on. No smudging (even when you rub your face and forget you're wearing makeup!), it's pretty much waterproof and it looks so natural when I wear it. I'd hate to jinx it but I think I'm finally cracking my brows! Overall I'm so happy with this little duo and I would highly recommend the pair if you're struggling with your own!

What's your favourite eyebrow product?

Where Are They Now?

One thing that comes with reading endless amounts of beauty posts from the past 3 years comes a long list of hyped products. I have no self-control when it comes to makeup and as soon as somebody tells me that they love a product, I have to try it myself. This can have two issues: a) you buy it & don't like it, or b) the hype wears off after a few weeks and people start to admit that it wasn't actually that good or even worth the hype.

The first ever hyped-up product that I bought was the Maybelline Colour Tattoo in Rose Gold. When I originally reviewed them here, I loved them. I have to admit though, I'm no longer much of a fan of these. It's so funny how your interpretation and opinion of a product changes once you get older & try others! The Touche Eclat highlighting pen by YSL was a product that came into the blogger hype earlier this year and when I reviewed it at the time, I didn't understand the hype. 8 months later & I still can't say I'm head over heels for it! I would rather use the Collection concealer which is much cheaper, gives my cheeks more of a highlight & covers my dark circles!

Lots of lip products were hyped-up last year, especially when the first drugstore launch of the famous Chubby Sticks came to Boots. The Bourjois Colorboost are still, one year later, one of my favourite lip products. They're so glossy and hydrating with such a gorgeous pay-off - these still deserve hype now! Revlon also had their 10 minutes of fame with the launch of their Lip Butters. I loved these to begin with, yet never seem to hear much of them anymore! Kate Moss' lipstick in 107 was one of the most memorable hyped-up products for my whole (almost 2 years!) of blogging. Needless to say, it's still as amazing as ever. Every time the #bbloggers Twitter chats focus on Autumnal makeup, this always comes out on top.

MAC's Mineralise Skin Finish in Soft & Gentle is always one of the most recommended when you ask for a champagne-coloured highlighter. I remember everyone going mad for this last September and I fell in love with it at the time. It's not a product I look to everyday and I mainly stick to using this in the Summer as it compliments a tan perfectly.

What products have you bought due to the hype surrounding them?

MAC Lovelorn Lipstick Review

The latest addition to my MAC lipstick collection is Lovelorn, it's a beautiful, natural mid-toned pink with cool undertones. It reminds me of a less-sheer sister of Creme Cup (review here) but with a lustre finish. Lustre finishes are one of my favourites as make your lips look very plump, hydrated and smooth with a slightly glossy finish. They're sheer to begin with but are buildable to give a more opaque colour.

The only thing I'm not over-awed by is the lasting power but I knew that before I bought it. Lustre finishes only last around a few hours and so reapplication is necessary, but I don't mind because it's a gorgeous colour. It also doesn't highlight dryness on the lips which is great in the late Winter when your lips aren't in tip-top condition! I would recommend this lipstick to everyone because it's so wearable and glossy. You can just throw this on if you're in a rush - no need for lip gloss or even a mirror!

I have to say, I still prefer my beloved Patisserie for an everyday lip colour but this is nice for a little something extra.

What's your favourite lipstick?