#28kisses and Counting | Day 14: Black-Hearted Kisses

A big, sorry that I have't updated my blog in the last few days but I have been sick with the worst cold-cough-fever combination and just didn't have the motivation (or strength) to start blogging. I'm going to pick up things right where I left it with Day 14 of the #28kisses Lipstick Challenge when I decided to throw anything red under a bus and throw some Dark Lips for Valentines Day. 

I’ve had MAC Cyber which is a Dark Plum-black satin lipstick sitting in my lipstick collection gathering dust for a while now because it’s not really a work-wearable shade in my opinion. Andii’s Dark Lip’s Tutorial focuses on using foundation or concealer as a base and then using MAC Nightmoth Lipliner to line your lips and create dimension so I’ve done my best to recreate exactly what he did using his steps

So what do you guys think?? A lovely change from all the red clogging up your eyes today?

Miss out on MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish?? Well even though it's sold out in all the stores, here is your chance to WIN one!!!! Enter my February give-away!

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#28kisses and Counting | Day 5: Amped Up Kisses

I normally detest bright lipsticks with a passion but Sleek Makeup True Colour Lipstick in Amped is THE inly bright lipstick I own that has been bought with my funds (which FYI is why you won't ever find me going crazy for MAC Candy Yum Yum, I would never use it so why buy it??) and probably the only one I will ever use. I haven't really worn this shade much since I first bought it on a dare last year but a recent video by my friend Debra made me remember that I actually do have a bright lipstick lurking around in my collection.

Now despite her using the American National Anthem when the Nigerian or British would have sufficed (No Debra, I can't get over you using that. You're not even American!!!), She does bring up some very good point about bright lipstick on darker complexions and more importantly not all bright lipsticks should be avoided.

So with my trademark swatch smile, I am brushing the dust off my Mystic lipstick and wearing it proudly (in my house anyway).

What do you think about Debra's video? Do you get told you can't wear certain colours or shades dependant on your skin tone?

Miss out on MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish?? Well even though it's sold out in all the stores, here is your chance to WIN one!!!! Enter my February give-away!

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#28kisses and Counting | Day 3: Salacious Kisses

Day 3 and a little bit of proof that I actually do use my lipsticks.

I normally only ever post pictures of my lipstick when they are brand new and never been worn or swatted, so I guess it might seem to many that I only use it once or twice and dump it in a container somewhere (not the case!!!). If I'm shelling out of my own pocket for something then I'm going to buy it for ME not just for the purpose of blogging.

This gooey lipstick is the result of a lot of love and too much time spent in my various coat pockets but once upon a time it could be identified as Illamasqua's Salacious lipstick. A lipstick so bold and bright on my lips that I never could decide if it was a coral red or a raspberry red . . . *tilts head to the left and right * Nope, I still can't tell.

This shade is probably one of the best shades available for darker skinned ladies from Illamasqua (the other being Diablo) and I would recommend it 110%!!!

Does your lipstick start looking like mine after a bit too much love? Or am I standing out on a ledge by myself here?

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#28kisses and counting | Day 1: Matte Red Kisses

I feel really bad that I abandoned my last lipstick challenge halfway through in December, especially when you guys really seemed to love it. As Kamen is doing 28 kisses lipstick and glosses challenge I thought that I might as well do it as well .  . .. I have a lot to get through, plus I kinda feel bad for not regularly posting these last 3 weeks.

This #28kisses challenge has been set up by Nykki and the only rules (not that theses are really rules) is that you share the lipstick shades on your lips and you show a different lipstick every day; so no trying to cheat by posting 28 lipsticks in one day.

To start of the 28kisses tag, I've chosen M17 which is a bright red (orange toned) lipstick sent to me by Black|UP Paris that is just so eye-catchingly red, it actually looks a bit neon. It's just screams RREEEDDDDD at me. 

You all know by now that I'm not really a fan of  matte lipsticks but to be honest I think I prefer the matte formula of this lipstick compared to some of the others I've tried out that feel like sandpaper in a tub. I'm not saying I'm in love with it (I would be lying if I did *matte-lipstick hater to the extreme*) but I do have to say that it does have the right amount of creme and moisture for me to actually reach for it

If you would like to join in with #28kisses then head on over to Nykki Talks Beauty and sign up!

Miss out on MAC Stereo Rose Mineralize Skinfinish?? Well even though it's sold out in all the stores, here is your chance to WIN one!!!! Enter my February give-away!

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Trend On Trial : A (Dark) English Rose

‘A rosebud lip, the first blush of spring and a luminous glaze in homage to the fresh start of the New Year”

I really wish my words carried as much imagery as Anita Bhagwandas words do but lets face it, I struggled through my GCSE English Language classes (though I wished my English Literature classes would never end) and the fact I can even string together a blog post that is not covered with grammatical errors is a win in my book. In this week’s StylistMagazine, the beauty team was inspired by the “Jane Austen-esque” makeup look worn by the Valentine S/S13 models and decided to try it out for the day.

While I’m all for natural and dewy makeup looks, I can’t say I have every tried anything remotely close to being classified as ‘English Rose” but I’m also up to try anything once the inspiration hits. So pushing aside my powders and vamp lipsticks; with a few colour appropriate tweaks, I’m going to don highlighters, concealers and a lot of rose pink for a “Dark English Rose” look.

Luckily for me I have normal skin so that’s half my job tackling concealers and correctors done, I’m still going to go in with Black|Up’s Corrector Palette in 02 to correct the purple-blue tones of the straightener burns on my forehead and the dents on my noses *Oh, the woes of being a glasses user* and apply a thin layer of Illamasqua’s Skin Base in No. 16 with a duo-fiber stippling brush.

I’m really focusing on highlighting my face for this look so taking my L’Oreal Paris True Match Concealer in Café Coffee, I’m going to highlight the bridge of my nose, my chin and under my cheekbones and slap on Becca Cosmetic's Beach Tint in Strawberry on my cheeks with MAC’s Stereo Rose MSF as my inner radiance highlighter  . . . or that’s what I’m aiming for anyway.

For that just bitten lip effect, I’ve taken MAC Apres Chic lipstick and blotted it on with some tissue to give my lips a rose colour that hopefully ties everything together.

You would think that a subtle look would involve less products but here you go . . . now all that’s left to decide is whether I want to go find my Mr. Darcy or curl up in my bed with a book.

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Makeup Video: Sidecar'd By Sam

Everyone knows about the blog wife, Sam, so there is really no need to introduce her (again anyway) so  I'll skip that lool.

I've been meaning to do a Youtube video for a very long time but I've really not been feeling well lately  so never got round to it. I finally gave myself a big push today and got round to filming a video response to Sam's New Year Eve Glittery Tutorial which was a super easy holiday look using Sidecar for the Urban Decay Naked Palette, that I really wanted to try out.

I am using my brand new camera to do this video and I haven't even taken any pictures with it yet but decided to just dive in and do a video, so the colour settings are not the greatest (as I had no clue what I was doing).

Eyes:-

Urban Decay Naked Palette Eyeshadow in Sidecar

MAC Eyeshadow in Folie

Bourjois Paris Extrait Intense Eyeshadow in No. 10

MAC Eyeshadow in Texture

MAC Gel Eyeliner in BlackTrack

L'oreal Paris Contour Kohl in 131 Jet Black

Eylure Naturalite Evening Wear Lashes in 107

Face:-

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Trinidad (Dark 3)

MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW40

Ben NYE Translucent Powder in Sienna

Sleek Contour Kit in Dark

Illamasqua Cream Eyeshadow in Betray

Lips:-

MAC Lip Pencil in Cork

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Viva Glam VI (6)

MAC Lipglass in Pink Lemonade

I really hope you like it even though it's not the best quality  . . . . Oops just realised that my makeup smudged round my lips where I had a sip of water looooool oh well

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Makeup Look: Xmas 2012 Face of the Day

I've been publishing a lot of makeup looks lately and I really hope you enjoy them because I really love creating them and posting them online. Today I wanted to do something a bit different so I decided to dig out my pinks and purples and do a look using solely these colours.

This look is very similar to my Sweet, Bridal Pink Look that I posted in the summer but I feel that it is a lot more subtle even though I used a lot of the same colours in this look.

As always if you want to see a list of all the products I've used them scroll up and click on my 'Makeup Looks' tabs on my header.

Eyes:-

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk

MAC Eyeshadow in Passionate 

MAC Eyeshadow in Hep cat

MAC Eyeshadow in Cranberry

MAC Eyeshadow in Expensive Pink

Lash Perfect La La Lashes in B168

Face:-

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Trindad (Dark 3)

MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW40

Sleek Makeup Face Contour Kit in Dark

Lips:-

MAC Lipliner in Cork 

MAC Lipstick in Speak Louder

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Makeup Look: Sparkle 2 Palette Inspired Look with Rhinestones

I know I posted this a snapshot of this look earlier today with my Sleek Makeup Sparkle 2 Palette Review but I REALLY love the way that this look turn out so I just wanted to post up a few more pictures of this look.

Yes, it is a bit vain but I don't get to play around with bright colours on a day-to-day basis anymore and I thought the added crystals really enhances this look and will make it a perfect option if you plan to go crazy and loud makeup-wise this xmas.

Apart from a my highlight eyeshadow, I've only used Twinkle (dark blue) and Tinsel (white-silver) from the new Limited Ediiton Sleek Makeup Sparkle 2 Palette to create this look. I've used a winged-cut crease method to apply Twinkle in my crease and under eye area with Tinsel on my lid.

 I bought the Pre-glued crystals from Ebay in 3 different sizes and tried to stick them in locations that enhanced my Vee shaped smokey look

I'm really loving this look (especially as I did it without my glasses and contacts so couldn't really see what I was doing very well) but hopefully I will do a Youtube tutorial on it this weekend once my new camera arrives.

 

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Makeup Look: Midnight Euphoria (My Sister Named This Look)

It's really rare that I remember to post my makeup looks on here when I do get round to playing around with makeup (rare opportunity these days). This is the look from last night's lipstick/lipgloss Christmas Challenge post that I got a lot of love for so I thought I should post up a quick close up of the look.

Eyes:-

Makeup For Ever Eye Aqua Cream in 20 (Base)

Sleek Makeup Au Naturale Palette (Black Eyeshadow)

MAC Eyeshadow in Bisque (Highlight)

MAC Eyeshadow in Texture (Transition)

Helen E Eyeshadow in Dark Blue (Eyelids)

Eylure 65 Years Celebration lashes in Kings Road.

Eyebrows:-

MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW40

MAC Eyebrow Liner in Stud

HD Brows Eyebrow Powder Palette in Vamp

Face:-

MAC Select Cover Up Concealer in NW40

Nars Sheer Glow Foundation in Trindad (Dark 3)

Ben NYE Translucent Powder in Topaz

MAC Mineralize Skin Finish Natural in Dark Deep

Sleek Makeup Face Contour Kit in Dark

Sleek Makeup 3 Blush Palette in Lace

Lips:-

MAC Lip Pencil in Cork

MAC Lipglass in Revealing

MAC Lustre Lipstick in Jubilee

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Christmas Challenge | Day 18: MAC Satin Lipstick in Rebel

It’s 6am . . . Why am I awake and posting on the blog??

I will tell you why . . .I’m about to head off to Leicester to pick up my little sister from uni and bring her back down to London for Christmas. To be honest I really do love having my sister around; because two crazy chicks is always better than one, but it also means that I have to start keeping a careful eye on my makeup collection, as she seems to have developed a habit of taking what doesn’t belong to her.

MAC Satin Lipstick in Rebel is a glossy but deep fuchsia berry lipstick that my sister absolutely swears by and actually introduced me to (she loves anything burgundy or wine). It’s a very opaque shade in the sense that it will cover up the lip pigmentation if you suffer from that.

I think I’m a really big fan of this lipstick just because it makes my teeth even more ‘Ross-Friends White’ than normal but for shades reasons I think I’m more of a deep red or nude girl than a deep berry lady.

Anyway I thought I should play around with MAC Rebel because it’s a shade that gets more love from my sister than me plus I know I’m going to be sipping on tea and having a catch up with my mum on the 2 hour journey to Leicester so any deep shade would do the job.

I really hope I get back to London in time so I can take a nap and go to Lola and Vik’s Xmas Blogger party in Canary Wharf, which I am really excited about and will hate to arrive frazzled

Ciao for now . . .off to Leicester I go!!!

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Christmas Challenge | Day 17: MAC Lustre Lipstick in Jubilee & Lipglass in Revealing

Apologies for the late evening ’30 lipstickin 30 days’ update, I know I haven’t been the most reliable when It comes to uploading my daily choice but I didn’t forget . . .promise!!

Right now I’m just putting my finishing touches to my makeup to head off to Kettner to celebrate my friend John’s birthday. Tonight choice is a nude lip combo and it’s MAC Lustre Lipstick in Jubilee. And MAC Lipglass in Revealing.

MAC Jubilee is a flesh-toned nude lipstick that has the perfect combination of beige and pink that really looks looks quite natural on my lips. I find that it works very well with MAC Cork lipliner as the two neutralize each other and when topped with MAC lipglass in Spice, which is a thick orangey-brown nude lipgloss. I have my perfect nude lip combo

Since I’m wearing a blue and turquoise glitter bodycon dress from Topshop, I’m keeping my eyes, a dark blue with an orange blush and nude lips so I don’t end up looking like a glitter queen. I’m actually really excited for dinner tonight; here's hoping I like the food.

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