For a couple of weeks, I had been searching for the perfect vampy lipstick to wear as part of my Halloween costume and now... my search is over. Say hello the the most gorgeous dark purple lip combination from MAC and Barry M! I really wanted to find a matte lipstick for my night out because they are usually a lot more long-wearing and fuss free than a more more glossy and moisturising formula. In the past, I have used Rimmel's Moisture Renew Lipstick in the shade 'Dark Night Waterl-oops!' but I found that it was just too shiny - which meant that it would slide around, get on to my teeth and bleed outside of my lip line. Let's face it girls, that's never a good look!
So with the help of my good friend Chloe, who actually works for MAC, she helped me settle on the shade 'Smoked Purple' (£15.50) - which is described on their website as a deep eggplant purple shade. I love MAC's matte formulation as it is so comfortable to wear and not at all drying on the lips. Plus, it tends to stay in place pretty well even you are eating or drinking (and I will definitely be doing the latter on my night out!)
After buying the lipstick, I was really struggling to find a matching lip pencil to make sure that I could a get crisp and sharp line around the edge of my lips, seeing as it is such a dark colour. I didn't want to purchase a lip pencil from MAC seeing as I had already spent over £15 on a lipstick that isn't a wearable shade that I could wear everyday. After swatching what felt like hundreds of liners on my hand in Superdrug, I finally came across this super affordable one from Barry M. I'm not a big fan of the Barry M range at all (aside from their nail varnishes,) so I was pleasantly surprised when I found this gorgeous lip liner in the shade 'Plum' (£2.99.) I was expecting it to be really hard and drag the lips but it is actually a lot creamier than I expected.
As you can see from the swatches above, these two products match almost perfectly! I am so happy that I found this incredible lip combo to wear as part of my costume. I am going as a super simple black cat but I am planning to add more interest to my outfit and overall look by really exaggerating my make-up! What do you think of my vampy lip duo? What are you going as for Halloween this year? Please let me know by popping a comment down below!
I am rather surprised that I have never done a Lush empties blog post before because as you all know by now, I am a Lush addict! The main reason that I tend to hang on to any Lush packaging is because if you take five empty pots back to a store, you receive a free face mask! I love schemes like this (similar to the Back To MAC one) because not only do you get a free product in return, but it feels great to know that you are doing your bit to recycle too! Furthermore, let's jump right into my five empty products and hear what I thought about them, shall we?
Tea Tree Water Toner - £4.50
I loved this toner water so much because it didn't strip my skin like some harsher toners with lots of chemicals in them do! This spray is super refreshing to use after cleansing and the tea tree helps to calm down any blemishes or redness on my skin. It can be either spritzed straight onto your face like a mist or onto a cotton pad so that you can then gently wipe it across your face. I tended to alternate between the two methods depending on how I felt on the day to be honest!
Mask Of Magnaminty Face Mask - £5.75
Although this mask didn't smell the greatest, I did like the effects that it had on my skin. It was really cooling upon application because all of Lush's face masks are fresh and must be kept in the fridge! It always left my skin feeling very calm and rejuvenated. I got about four or five uses out of this mask and I always put on a very generous and thick layer! It's not my favourite mask of theirs that I have tried but it is still one of the best in my opinion.
Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mask - £5.75
Now on to my preferred mask of choice, 'Catastrophe Cosmetic.' I love its blueberry scent but the thing I love the most about this mask in particular is its texture. This mask definitely feels more clay-like and so it's really great at combating the oiliness of my skin. It is also excellent at soothing the skin, reducing the size of my spots and improving its overall texture. This mask is a must have for me and I need to re-purchase it ASAP!
Dark Angels Cleanser - £6.95
The reason that I used this cleanser was purely for its exfoliating purposes rather than its cleansing properties. Its gritty charcoal-based texture not only sloughed away any dead skin on my face but it also soaked up an excess oil on the surface of it too! The only downside to this product is that its really messy to use but if you are careful, cleaning it up afterwards doesn't take too long at all. In my eyes, this is just a small price to pay for such a lovely product!
Ultrabland Cleanser - £11.95
Last but not least is my holy grail cleanser, 'Ultrabland.' I have used quite a few cleansing balm and oils to remove my make-up but none have ever compared to this one, hence why I mention it so often here on my blog! I love knowing that I am using a product on my skin with lots of natural ingredients in it too, as they make my skin feel so nourished afterwards. This cleanser melts down even the heaviest of make-up looks with ease and that's why I love it so much! It is very rich and thick in texture but it never clogs up my skin, which is always a bonus.
So guys, those are the five empties that I have to show to you today. I hope that you found my mini reviews helpful! Have you ever tried ant skincare products from Lush and if so, what did you think of them? I would love to know - so, please leave me a comment down below with your thoughts and suggestions!
I have been loving dressing more casually lately and I am all about comfort and warmth during the winter time! I am often a little bit hit and miss when it comes to Topshop, even though it is one of my favourite high street stores, but recently I have fallen in love with so many items. So today, I thought that I would share some of my top casual pieces with you all.
Trouble Motif Tee - £16.00
I am always partial to a slogan tee and this one is no exception to that rule! I love how simple it is and it can be paired with literally anything - jeans, skirts, leggings etc. I also love wearing a monochromatic t-shirt with a checked shirt layered over the top of it during autumn and winter for a laidback look.
Cable Knit Pom Beanie - £14.00
There's nothing like a cute beanie hat to keep you warm during the winter months and this one really caught my eye because it has two colours of yarn running through it. Plus, I love wearing hats to hide a bad hair day too ;)
Jersey T-Bar Triangle Bra - £9.00
I'm one of those girls who hates wearing a bra and I always take mine off as soon as I get home - I just find them so uncomfortable! So, the idea of wearing a triangle bra that has no underwire is so appealing to me. You still get a tiny bit of support but none of the discomfort!
Slouchy Stud Embellished Holdall - £40.00
This bag is definitely on my Christmas list, as my current bag is falling apart! I love slouchy bags in particular because I feel like you can fit so much more into them and I am one of those people who carries absolutely everything around with me. I also love how it has silver studs as embellishment as I am a huge fan of silver jewellery as opposed to gold, I feel like it suits me a lot more!
MOTO Vintage Borg Western Jacket - £59.00
I already have a denim jacket from Topshop but the fluffy shearling lining both inside and on the collar of this coat really appeals to me. Not only will it keep you warmer during the colder months but it also adds another texture and some extra interest to an outfit too!
Hazard Lipstick - £8.00
Lastly, I have never tried any of Topshop's lipsticks but I know many people who are a huge fan of them. I have heard that their colour pay off and formulation are great! At the moment, my lipstick collection is lacking in the reds department and so this shade would be the perfect for me!
So guys, those are the items that I currently on my Topshop wishlist. I hope that you like them! Topshop have so many great things at the moment so I definitely recommend that you check out your local store or their website to see what you can add to your own wishlist!
